Itineraries - San Salvario - being Turinese
ENRICO VERRA
Enrico Verra, renowned Turinese film director, guides us on the discovery of San Salvario, the city quarter in which he shot the film "Sotto il sole nero" (Under a black sun) (2005) and the documentary "Benvenuto in San Salvario", winner of the best short film European Oscar (Berlin 1999).Enrico - "Here we're in Turin but the contrary is also true... There is always something that reminds you of the city, like the yellow colour of buildings or the top of the Mole appearing between a crossing and another. Yet there is always something that reminds you of other places too: the Synagogue's dome is the Middle East or Jerusalem or Istanbul; the shores of the Valentino Park seem those of the Thames, the ancient Borgo the Aosta Valley; the castle hosting the Architecture Faculty resembles France... and then you hear Arabic, African music... This is a crossing quarter: there are so many unusual stories that its impossible not to tell them!"
Sotto il sole nero - tells the story of Sergio, a youth who abandons his family and Turin’s suburbs to move to San Salvario and change his life.
He founds a company with a young Nigerian girl, a former prostitute, and an Ethiopian musician to produce video of non-existent shows.
The film’s plot narrates Sergio’s love affair as well as various attempts to integrate different cultures. It faithfully represents the area given than many actors do live here.
Benvenuto in San Salvario - tells the story of a Turinese photographer who, having lost his job and Home, becomes San Salvario's immigrants' photographer.
In front of his camera they pretend to have reached success in Italy in order to send the "touched up" photos to their dear ones.
Enrico - "San Salvario is the most vivacious, contradictory and problematic quarter of town... the ideal space in which to travel!
It is a small world inside Turin... a dreamy space, full of feelings and potential... It resembles the multiethnic quarters of capital cities, but with a difference: it isn't a ghetto because here there's stratification and communal life (one example suffices: Islam and Jews)... and this makes it unique! At times it may appear unreal, but this makes it even more eloquent: as for novels, fiction explains reality better...San Salvario is an open air novel!!"
Just like proper actors in a film, Enrico Verra recommends the 5 "Celebrities " who better than other incarnate the unique spirit of San Salvario...
Someone who has winked his EYE to new cultures: Sergio.
"I’m a Turinese immigrant in Turin. I’ve changed my life and I’ve got to know Africa!"
Someone who puts his NOSE in the quarter daily: "Agenzia per lo sviluppo locale di San Salvario" (Agency for San Salvario’s local development).
"We founded the centre because here there was such frenetic activity... and we didn’t want to miss out on it!!"
Someone whose EAR has listened to rhythms from all over the world: Marco.
"My father collected records... I continue the activity he began... and I couldn’t have found a better place for it!!"
Someone who has shaken HANDS with originality and the ethnic style: Niass
"Around here I know everybody and I’m fine: I bring Senegalese fashion to Turin!!"
Someone who can make your bocca water irresistibly: Mohmed
"We prepare kebabs with a smile... until 5 a.m.".