I was very excited when Sicilian American film director Mark Spano asked if he could interview me for a documentary he was making, called Reimagining Sicily.
I was particularly impressed when he managed to book nearby 17th century Villa Palagonia to do the filming; for this gorgeous villa is owned by 32 different people, none of whom like each other and one of whom occasionally emerges in his underpants and shouts at visitors in German, according to local gossip.
But enough of that, for the documentary tackles loftier themes. Mark’s aim was to get to the root of what being Sicilian is really all about, and how being at the beating heart of thirteen different empires has shaped an island with more culture than anywhere else on earth. The people of this little triangle of earth, certainly the most exotic place in Europe, are at once refined and earthy, dignified and hilarious and, above all, conquered thirteen times yet utterly, entirely indomitable.
Once you have lived in Sicily you can never really leave, for she will chew you up, digest you, and make you a part of her. I think Mark’s documentary does a good job of explaining how.
You will have a chance to see me on screen, looking really rather good if I say so myself. I usually appear to have slept on the beach but, for this special occasion, I went to the hairdresser and appeared before the camera looking downright sleek. Several friends of mine were also interviewed, all fascinating and knowledgeable people whose insights I am sure you will enjoy.
For just the month of June 2017, you can watch the online premiere of REIMAGINING SICILY free of charge. The only requirement is that you spend 5 minutes at the end completing a review questionnaire. Please email reimaginingsicily @ gmail .com to request a link to see the film.
If you do watch it, I would love to hear what you think.
The Dangerously Truthful Diary of a Sicilian Housewife 
How exciting! You do look rather good. I’m being interviewed tomorrow about the old Victorian railway carriage my family owned here on the Isle of Wight where we spent all our summers as children and beyond. It’s a television series about the restoration of these carriages. I’m not sure I’ll be able to look as good as you since I’ve just had a cataract operation and am not supposed to put on any makeup. Yeah, right! The interviewer is Peter Snow. Ooh, er!
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Ooh, very exciting and congratulations! I bet you will look lovely anyway 😁
Maybe you should go for the mysterious look, with dark glasses and soft focus?
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I’ve bought a jaunty black patch!
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Perfect! I can’t wait to see you. Please make sure you tweet when it’s going to be on. 👍🏻
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And I hope you are healing and feeling well after the op. Xxx
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I’ll be posting about it. Feeling good, which is more than can be said for similar on the left eye done in Crete!
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Well I am glad at least one eye is ok! ❤️
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The interview was put back because of a tree on the line which delayed Peter Snow, coming by train, for more than an hour and screwed up their filming schedule. 😀 It’ll happen at a later date.
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Well that’s a bummer, but I guess it gives you another chance to do the interview with both eyes in all their glory! ❤
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I’ll let you into a secret. I decided not to wear the black patch and put makeup on both eyes! I shall just be very, very careful when I remove it tonight.
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I hope it will be OK!
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Congratulations, you Diva.
I will watch it later today, if not, later this week.
Go head on girl!
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Love the trailer for the movie!
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Mail submitted. Mood excited. And you really look good! Sicily the motherland of human gods and godlike human beings
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😀
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The greatest surprise came at the end: My name is mentioned in the Special Thanks! How did it come about? I darkly remember that there was a collection of money for an enthusiastic new film project about Sicily, with a new approach, and I could not avoid to share the enthusiasm and give some money: Nice result, in the end!
I even learned something: About the writer Borgese who married a daughter of Thomas Mann who was 36 years younger. Very interesting. I should start looking for 36 years younger girls – ups – better not, then they are too young!!! 🙂
Well, I put Borgese on my Amazon wish list.
Ah, and you inserted some EU skepticism, Veronica, well done!
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Thank you for adding your help to the film! I hope it gets accepted by a TV channel – apparently there are some negotiations going on.
Ah yes, marrying a much younger lady! I think it is something a lot of men may think about but in reality, it may not be as appealing as it seems, to either party!
I wish my explanation of my EU scepticism had been included. I am not a Brexit supporter, but I see EU subsidies in Sicily going to help the corrupt politicians and incompetent business people hold onto their power – like weeds, they don’t leave room for the talented and honest people to rise up and take over. A lot of the “successful” people in Sicily would be in the gutter if they didn’t have all this help!! That was what I explained when saying Sicily could start again from the ground up, corruption free, if the subsidies ended and the playing field was level.
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Congratulations. You did a superlative job and I understood clearly what you meant about the “Sicilian System” of corruption, etc. You came across intelligent, thoughtful, well spoken as well as beautiful. Brava!
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Thank you!!
I did enjoy pontificating at length about Sicilian history 🙂 and I think Mark did well in picking out the main parts!
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Happy for you, Veronica!
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Hello Veronica, Viewed the Mark Spano documentary and shared it with the “Speak Sicilian” FB Group for others to enjoy. Some of the group apparently did log on to view it Thought it was beautifully done, especially the HD quality of the video. BTW, you were a knockout in your part and looking particularly glamorous too. Thanks
From an iPad 9.7 2017
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Thank you!!! And thanks for sharing. I am hoping that the wider we can spread the word, the better the chance of helping Mark find a distributor, ideally in Britain as well as the USA.
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Wonderful!
The necklace is smashing and your power color Etna red certainly fit the bill.
I enjoy your blogs and am happy to see you in action!
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Ooh thanks, you have made my day 😘
I am very flattered you liked the necklace, I made that myself.
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Brava!
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I just loved the video – good work and very informative
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I was gonna warn you to watch out for the Weinstein effect, but then I remembered . . . You’re used to Italian men. They’re {mostly} all hands-on guys😁😂😇
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I would love to watch it, and I am unable to find the full film – only the crowdfunding trailer. Might you share a link where it can be viewed? Thank you!
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I’ve heard it’s now available on Amazon. I think this means you can buy it online to stream.
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