Vittorio Rossi’s ‘Paradise by the River’ on stage in Montreal

Italian-Canadian Vittorio Rossi is a playwright, actor and screenwriter born in Montreal.

His latest play, “Paradise by the River,” is about the internment of Italian-Canadians during the Second World War, shedding light on a dark part of history.

“Human beings have rights and they should never be discarded at the whims of politics,” said Rossi.

Louis Tucci plays two roles in the play: Lorenzo, a store owner, and Caolo, who is a fascist in the camp.

“I don’t know what to do,” says Tucci, as Caolo. “I can’t face my family. I came here a fascist. I thought it was the right thing to believe in. I don’t know who I am anymore.”

To which Rossi’s character replies: “You’re an Italian… Human beings have rights and they should never be discarded at the whims of politics.”

Tucci says the character of Lorenzo really resonated with him.

“I’m sort of influenced by my dad,” he said. “My dad had a lot of the same kind of energy. He was very funny, but he was also very passionate. So actually, this is a tribute to my dad.”

Rossi tells Tucci’s character in the play: “You have centuries of tradition behind you. Your family needs you now more than ever. You have your art, your music. That is important.”

(CREDIT: Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed/CityNews)

Lesser known moment in Canadian history

On May 27, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a formal apology to Italian Canadians.

“I rise in this House today to issue an official apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for the internment of Italian Canadians during the Second World War,” he said at the time.

Rossi didn’t know the federal government was going to officially apologize for the mistreatment of the Italians during the war. He says he cannot be more proud that it happened.

“A government should not have the right to do something like that,” he said. “You can’t pigeonhole an entire culture, whether you’re Jewish or Arab or Italian or French – doesn’t matter. They should not be able to do something like that where you put an entire culture under siege because of a political leader elsewhere.”

Tucci says he is proud to be a part of the production, one he feels is needed.

“I’ve spoken to so many people about this and they have never even realized that this had happened,” he said. “And it was such an injustice. And I think the world needs to know that this was a very dark period in Canadian history.”

In the play, Rossi tells Tucci’s character Lorenzo: “It just it’s just wrong. This prison camp didn’t defeat you. Don’t let freedom defeat you. Stand, tall. You are a Calabrese. Make your people proud.”

“Paradise by the River” runs until Oct. 2 at the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre in Saint-Leonard.

For more: magjusjenentertainment.ca.