AUF student Sean Donnelly found his passion for photography by chance, using it to explore identity, art, and his connection to Italy.
Dante’s Divine Comedy Documentary Premiere
A Palazzi Community Center Event
Held in a hidden garden, Mario Mariani premiers his documentary on Dante’s Divine Comedy. The first row is scattered with friends, all showing obvious anticipation.
In this intimate setting and after the greetings subside, Valentina Monacó puts together the first PCC event after a long August break.
“People who are familiar with the community center come in and present ideas,” said Monacó. “There is a waiting list of people who want to do an exhibit or present a book.”
In 2020, Monacó started organizing Palazzi Community Center events. Much like this one, each event showcases the work of an artist, author, or local artisan. Interest sparks in the community as people walk in and ask Valentina herself what is going on in the space, and how to get involved.
This documentary premier specifically was an opportunity for students to understand the history of the importance of Dante. Displayed with English subtitles, Monacó remarks on how important it is for students to understand Italian history, including the story and legacy of Dante.
The garden adds an ambience to the environment, although a place of work and study, people come in to enjoy a coffee or aperitivo, in this case curious about what was happening in the back of the place. The greenery is refreshing, unlike the city center, it is full of plants which provides a relaxing surrounding for events and study sessions.
Before the film, conversation begins. The film attracted a crowd of friends and excited students. Hospitality students were well-dressed for the occasion, all very friendly and wanting to know if anyone needed anything. Attentive to guests, it looked like they had the same interest in the film as everyone seated. “Dante was an important political man in Florence, Florence in that period was divided,” said Mariani.
He mentions that Dante wrote the third part of his comedy in Verona, and how important the poet is for the Italian language. Dialect stemmed from Florence, and Mariani mentions how the dialect in Florence was affected from his Divine comedy at the time. Dialects are extremely prevalent in Italy, from each region entire words are different and can carry different meanings. Some words Dante had invented himself, for the “soul voyage” he took people through, said Mariani. This made the experience that much more intriguing.
Dante’s most successful writing is based on the three realms of the afterlife in Christianity. Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Dante, placing himself as the main character, walks through and observes each, “contrapasso,” or punishment for their wrongdoings in Hell and Purgatory. The film uses centuries old paintings to describe each realm, and what happens inside of it. To show Paradiso, or Heaven, Dante according to Mariani is supposed to walk through peach trees.
The documentary was informative to English speaking students that do not have as much of a grasp on Dante and his significance in Italy and the Italian language, that most certainly all Italians do.
The Palazzi Community Center is always full of energy, from students learning how to work an espresso machine in the mornings, to events in the evenings, the hospitality students are able to really participate and let their skills shine. The importance of this connects with AUF’s message of experiential learning, real events that are open to everyone.
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