“They had to kill my husband to be able to kill my son.”

Those are the words of Felicia Bartolotta Impastato, whose son, Giuseppe “Peppino” Impastato fought to end the rule of the Mafia in Sicily in the mid 1900s.

Peppino’s stand against the powerful crime syndicate is documented in “Un Bellissimo Ricordo” (A Beautiful Memory), which will be screened on Elon this Sunday, Feb. 18.

The film, along with a musical performance by award-winning Sicilian-American recording artist Michela Musolino will start in McEwen 011.

The documentary was produced by UNC - Greensboro film professor Anthony Fragola, who first heard of Impastato in a book of true stories about Sicilian women.

“I was really taken with these women’s stories,” he said. “I was particularly moved by this story of this woman and her 26-year struggle to bring justice to [her son’s] name.”

The film also features conversations with Peppino’s brother, Giovanni, who takes the filmmakers on a journey through Sicily, including a chilling visit to the site where the mafia killed Peppino by strapping explosives to his body and blowing him up.

Felicia is the driving force of the piece, and her interview provides a lot of insight into a world often romanticized in fiction films, but was all too real to the Impastato family.

“It’s hard to imagine what she’s been through,” said Elon Senior Video Producer Jason “J” McMerty, who edited the documentary as part of an independent study with Fragola.

Felicia’s struggle is particularly unique in that her husbandwas in the mafia. She was constantly torn between the two men, although she was usually favored her son because she believed his cause was just.

“Un Bellissimo Ricordo” features original footage of Sicily, as well as scenes from the Italian feature “I Cento Passi” (A Hundred Steps), which follows Peppino’s life.

Michela Musolino lends her vocals to the film’s soundtrack. Fragola chose her because her voice captures the “soulfulness” of Sicily. Members of the acoustic ensemble, Mebanesville, will accompany her during her Elon performance.

An earlier version of the film was screened in Italy at an anti-mafia conference, and was received very well.

The documentary was revised and subtitles were added for Sunday night’s screening. McMerty says he and Fragola have gone through about 20 different versions to get where they are now.

“It was challenging,” he said, “but it made a good piece.”

Those who want to see the film but cannot go to this Sunday’s screening can see it Sunday, April 15 at UNC-Greensboro. Giovanni Impastato will be present for that showing.

Reporter: Ryan Howard - 02/15/07