I am back in London after a working weekend in Rome. The town didn’t have much to do with what De Sica described in the internationally awarded film Ladri de Biciclette (The Bicycle Thieves, 1948). It is the story of the Romans using their creativity to survive in the aftermath of the Second World War.
The conference that I attended had that link to Rome. It was about fighting poverty and was the Annual Conference of the European Foundation Centre.
Held at the Hilton in a magnificant villa at the top of the hill behind the vatican and ending in a pantagruelic dinner at Doria-Phamfili Palace in via del Corso, it was one of the most useful conferences I have ever attended.
It was the event for the wealthy community of foundations, social investor and porters and parasites. Actually, we were marked accordingly: blue for donors and orange for beggars. I was orange, naturally.
I attended for just one day, came back with a loot of business cards and have already fixed some meetings.
A jolly event on poverty was limited to the title. It’s like De Sica’s son – in the film industry as well – who has the surname of his father. His films are all about holidays in exotic destinations populated by generous young women and adventures for upper class bachelors.
Is this the price we must pay for social change? I am happy with it – as long as someone else pays for the bill.
