The Albanian exodus in Italy

The help and the solidarity of the Italian people, which was never spared during the first months of the March exodus, for the Vlora ship travelers was only an illusion, same as their hope for staying in Italy.

This dark page of the Italian history will become known to the public through the documentary “La Nave Dolce”, of the Italian director Danielle Vicari. Besides the archive footages, it has also interviewed Albanians and Italians related with the Vlora ship.

The documentary will be presented at the Venice Festival, and it will also arrive in Albania’s movie theaters.  In an interview for Top Channel, Vicari gave his interpretation about the event.

“The expulsion of the people that arrived with the Vlora ship was the first massive expulsion made by Italy. It was realized with shameful methods, not only for today, but even for the time. I think that this event has affected the relations between the two people, not only practically, but also metaphorically. The arrival of the Vlora ship was depicted as an alien invasion against the Italian land, and the expulsion was like a victory against this enemy. This symbolism is horrible”, Vicari declared.

The then Mayor of Bari had prepared a sheltering plan that was similar with the civil protection one, such as the establishment of tends and basic help of the people who were tired by the long voyage and the heat. But the government took a surprising decision, which was absurd and almost inhuman.

Under the heat of that August, thousands of people were closed at the San Nicola stadium, in Bari. The water and food were dropped by helicopters and the refugees were repatriated with all means, even with force.

“There are people who preserve this painful memory even today, Italians and Albanians alike. I have interviewed one of the policemen who were in Bari on that day, and he feels ashamed about this episode because they understood what it was”, Daniel Vicari explains.

Top Channel