As someone who lost my father this past year, I've spent hte last several months making my way through old photographs, records, and memorabilia. In some ways, I've discovered the relationship with my father I never believed I had. Our differences were plentiful. Our common ground seemingly sparse. Yet, as I work to resolve his estate I've discovered common ground and connections unknown.
It's all been profoundly healing.
It would seem much the same is true for Giovanni E. Morassutti's 69-minute feature doc Memorabilia - A Family Story, an autobiographical documentary retracing the history of the historic Italian company Paolo Morassutti. Beyond being a leader in the hardware and housewares sector since the 1960s, the company was known and is well-remembered for an internal amateur theater troupe. It was a unique presence, an expression of philanthropic corporate welfare and ethical capitalism, and as I watched Memorabilia I couldn't help but think that maybe the troupe is as fondly remembered as the company itself.
In full transparency, Memorabilia is directed by Giovanni Morassutti, a descendant of the family and an actor trained at the Actors Studio in New York. In Memorabilia, Morassutti finds a bridge of sorts between his own creative pursuits and those carried within his childhood memories. This is a film that explores both, personal hopes and dreams and the hopes and dreams of those living within the workplace. Paolo Morassutti was known for prioritizing human worth and for creating a culture beyond seeing human beings as merely workers.
The story is meaningful, quietly engaging without an air of histrionics or unnecessary drama. Morassutti infuses the film with a wealth of archival footage and contemporary interviews drawing you into these people's lives and the corporate life of a beloved company.
The theatrical shows themselves were reportedly quite good, even touring in the late 1960s. Of course, as always seems to happen, things would change. In this case, the human-centered culture of the company would clash with an acquiring owner whose leanings were more financially driven. As we feel in Memorabilia, it was an impactful change that ended what feels almost dreamlike.
Memorabilia - A Family History is a unique, engaging film and one for creatives who wish to impact the worlds in which they live should watch to see a point in time when commerce and creativity were wonderfully blended and built bridges throughout the lives of all impacted.
