The gang underworld Paola Dalmasso
John Pistoia
"The band World under "is not a book any. It's raw flesh. Suffering, sacrifice, shame for adults. A cry of pain and help. A punch in the stomach. And much more. It can not be dismissed with few words.
Paola Dalmasso is the author of the book. Degree in languages, teaches for years in high schools in Milan. In the 90s he moved to Russia, here we spend four years, the Soviet empire, meanwhile, collapses. Back in Italy, and assists, in Milan, one of the first shows of the boys in Bucharest, set up by the clown Miloud Oukili. The narratives of the show, that is the story of boskettari, mark it, the encounter with Miloud Oukili is an opportunity to learn more. From these experiences, this novel was born. One way, too, to lend a hand to kids who can not live in the sunshine.
Who is Miloud Oukili ? Miloud Ouhili is a French-Algerian clown. Very young provides his art to help in a practical, children and young people living in extreme difficulties, real invisible. In 1992 in Bucharest, here comes the reality of contact boskettari. The story of these kids, no family, no home, in the hands of crime, including the institutional one, strongly hits him. Want to do something, especially to give them visibility. In 1996, launched its "A red nose against indifference" and founded the association "Fundatia Parada. The Foundation aims to teach the circus arts to street children by involving them in events to bring in all of Europe. Not only to give an opportunity Redemption for those forgotten by history, but because Europe is aware and take action.
born in 1996 "Parada Italy, who works for the social reintegration of children and young people themselves. The project "Parada" allows for street children to receive assistance and training. His decisive action has made inroads. UNICEF was awarded the "On the side of children." The story of "Parade", he remembers, he also inspired the film by Marco Pontecorvo's Pa-ra-da , winning the Venice Film Festival in 2008.
The publishing house that published the book "The gang underworld" is Giralangolo, which supports "Parada Italy. In fact, part of the proceeds from the sale of the book will devolto in support of initiatives and activities of the association.
These are not just a few dutiful news about the book, but we are already in the novel. The story is loosely based in fact, the history of Miloud Oukili, indeed, some of the characters are mentioned by their real name.
I boskettari
The boskettari are just kids, for various reasons. Left to themselves they live, how they can survive. Organize themselves into gangs, seeking alms, steal, become involved in illegal activities. They dwell among the pipes of the sewers in tunnels underground. They are the people who live in the "underworld," including mice and cobwebs. In the dark. They prefer to live in these places rather than in orphanages, prisons true. The city that lives "above", trample them. Are ignored, feared, exploited, killed, left to die.
on their head, Miloud Oukili, its association with "Parade" takes care of them as he can, intends to offer them a meal, shelter, opportunity for social inclusion; shield them, in essence, to a destiny of sacrifice and delinquency, violence against others and against themselves.
In this context, the story is set. Ian, one of the boys protagonists of the novel, under the spell of Miloud and thinks that another life is possible. The boy lives with friends in one of the tunnels of the city with him his most trusted friend, the dog Tigou. Mysterious protagonist is unaware of facts which can not give an explanation. The tragic death of some friends were suspicious. He does not know who to trust. Try to understand, is uncertain. Begins to distinguish good things and bad. He realizes that the clown Miloud is a friend, who really wants the good of boskettari and for this reason it is hated by those who want these guys to continue to be as they are, the masses of misfits to be used for criminal purposes.
the background, and not so hidden, the years of Ceausescu's terror, the misery of the people and the terrible secret police. Disturbing scenario also the home of luxury when Ceausescu was in power.
The style of the novel is moving, the story has intrigued the contours of the yellow, the narrative rhythm is addictive. A reading that certainly can not please young people (the rest of the novel, the protagonists are children), but that is perhaps more useful to adults, they may feel ashamed a bit 'of atrocities. Kids who do not live under the sun are many, and not only in places that are seemingly distant from us. And then the message is launched from the pages of the book, and before that, from the activities of Miloud is very simple: children and young people have no boundaries, can not have borders. They belong to everyone. They belong to the sun.
Paola Dalmasso
The gang underworld
Intrigue and mystery into a story of friendship and redemption
Giralangolo 2011
