Milan’s Chinatown, centered around Via Paolo Sarpi, is a multi-ethnic neighborhood where streets, the international flow of Chinese goods, and the daily routines of elderly Italians and long-established local families intersect. It is also the site of the 2007 riots that brought national attention to the area. Through the voices of residents, shopkeepers, key informants, and city officials, the documentary gathers thoughts, memories, desires, and fears of those who live, work, and move through the neighborhood every day. Their testimonies reveal how stigmatizing narratives—shaped and amplified by those in positions of power—have influenced public perception, often masking speculative and political interests. Blending social analysis, advocacy, and sharp irony, A-way from Paolo Sarpi reframes the conflict in Milan’s Chinatown as a question of political economy. In doing so, it invites viewers into a deeper reflection on belonging, coexistence, and the forces that reshape urban life.
La Chinatown di Milano, sviluppatasi attorno a Via Paolo Sarpi, è un quartiere multietnico dove le strade, il flusso internazionale delle merci cinesi e la quotidianità di anziani italiani e famiglie storiche si intrecciano. È anche il luogo delle rivolte del 2007 che hanno portato il quartiere all’attenzione nazionale. Attraverso le voci di residenti, commercianti, testimoni privilegiati e amministratori locali, il documentario raccoglie pensieri, ricordi, desideri e paure di chi vive, lavora e attraversa ogni giorno questo spazio urbano. Le loro testimonianze mettono in luce come narrazioni stigmatizzanti—prodotte e amplificate da chi detiene il potere—abbiano influenzato l’opinione pubblica, spesso celando interessi speculativi e politici. Tra analisi sociale, impegno civile e ironia tagliente, A-way from Paolo Sarpi rilegge il conflitto della Chinatown milanese come una questione di economia politica, invitando lo spettatore a una riflessione profonda su appartenenza, convivenza e trasformazioni urbane.
A-WAY from PAOLO SARPI. Ethnographic documentary from the Milan Chinatown (Film)
Manzo Lidia Katia Consiglia
2009-01-01
Abstract
Milan’s Chinatown, centered around Via Paolo Sarpi, is a multi-ethnic neighborhood where streets, the international flow of Chinese goods, and the daily routines of elderly Italians and long-established local families intersect. It is also the site of the 2007 riots that brought national attention to the area. Through the voices of residents, shopkeepers, key informants, and city officials, the documentary gathers thoughts, memories, desires, and fears of those who live, work, and move through the neighborhood every day. Their testimonies reveal how stigmatizing narratives—shaped and amplified by those in positions of power—have influenced public perception, often masking speculative and political interests. Blending social analysis, advocacy, and sharp irony, A-way from Paolo Sarpi reframes the conflict in Milan’s Chinatown as a question of political economy. In doing so, it invites viewers into a deeper reflection on belonging, coexistence, and the forces that reshape urban life.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
