Liberated neighborhood islet, 1970 (16mm positive, scan 2K/Sound)

Location: Florence, Italy Creator: Francesco Crescimone, Carlo Bolli, Enzo Falessi, Edwin Forrest It is a rare testimony of the figure and action of Don Mazzi, the priest who, taking the side of the exploited and oppressed, was the animator of the extraordinary experience of the Islet, a neighborhood popular in Florence. The film opens with the inauguration of the new church in the neighborhood, in the presence of the inhabitants, who fought to obtain it, and many of whom have been evicted from their homes by the Curia itself. In the following interview, Don Mazzi affirms that the experience of the Islet wants to indicate the need for a radical change of the Church, a change that is part of the revolutionary struggles heated in all over the world. It does not seek mediation with the official Church, which, perched as it is in the defense of its privileges and its power, is irreformable. The experience of the Islet wants to build a new religious community, rooted in the Church of the oppressed and exploited, recovering the original Gospel lesson. In the last part of the newsreel, Don Mazzi comments, in the presence of the community, on the pastoral letter in which the Curia takes a position on the experience of the Islet. A letter defined as “lupine”, that is, wolves, because reality is reversed with turns of phrase and allusions, and ultimately the experience of the Islet is condemned. Don Mazzi's voice continues his sharp comment on the long black tail that closes the film. 01. Opening titles: Free Newsreel - Incontri numero uno - Don Mazzi 02. Florence - Isolotto district. In front of a church there are faithful who listen to the reading of a statement on the project to build a new church 03. Interior shooting. Sitting at a table Don Mazzi answers questions 04. Don Mazzi says that in Italy there is still a situation of fear for which other cases such as that of the “islet” are difficult to solve 05. One reason, indicated by the priest, is why priests constitute a closed caste that does not see beyond his nose. In his opinion, they limit themselves to being priests without being of real help to the most needy 06. Other members sitting at the table answer further questions, expressing their opinion 07. “Don Mazzi has been recovered by the people and in Italy we need other emulates of his,” says a present. The same person affirms that priests must disengage from the economic power of the Church and its psychological conditioning 08. A woman declares that the influence of the bishop is harmful to the evangelical work of priests 09. Don Mazzi again describes in which social context the 14-year experience of the Islet is placed. It is necessary to break down the relationship between political power and ecclesiastical power, in his opinion 10. The letter of solidarity for the occupation of the Cathedral of Parma is remembered 11. Don Mazzi explains his idea of the Church: a church of Christ for the exploited, the humble, the marginalized 12. Don Mazzi continues to talk about his conception of the Church, not seen as a structure of power but of service, no longer as an oppressive but liberating structure. 13. People's Assembly; the hall is full. Don Mazzi still speaks against a harsh letter of reproach from the cardinal. Don Mazzi attacks the institution because every line of the letter is, in his opinion, empty, devoid of a Christian ideal and written by a powerful and not by a merciful