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Prisoners in Paradise On PBS in March

"Prisoners in Paradise" a one hour documentary about Italian POWs held in America during World War II by Camille Calamandrei, edited by Nancy Kennedy

Best Documentary... Rhode Island Film Festival

"You can't get better than this" ...Providence Journal

"Enlightening and moving. A valuable and memorable film about the lives of Italian prisoners of war in United States"... Stanley Kauffman, The New Republic

During World War II more than 51,000 Italian soldiers were brought to the United States as Prisoners of War. The charming and poignant documentary special, "Prisoners in Paradise," traces the previously untold story of these young man, their romances and friendships with American women and their significant-but unrecognized-contribution to the Allied war effort.

Featuring rare period footage of POW camps, the film follows six Italian POWs (and the women they met in America) on their extraordinary journey-full of challenges, love, perseverance and good luck. Captured primarily in North Africa-where they have been surviving on hard biscuits and water-the Italian POWs were uniformly amazed at the abundance of the US and generosity of their captors. Barracks were clean, treatment was humane, and, most importantly, food was always plentiful. Ironically, for many, capture had turned out to be a stroke of good fortune.

Shortly after the bulk of the Italian POW's arrived, as Italy officially switched sides in the war, and over ninty percent of the POWs agreed to collaborate with the Allied war effort. Suddenly, men who where did so badly defeated in the conflict, who spoke little or no English, and whose exposure to United States had come only through movies and books, now found themselves living out the contradictory roles of prisoner and allied to the United States-at the same time.

Though still restricted and kept under guard, collaborating POWs worked in 26 states under the direction of American soldiers and were permitted both to receive visitors and to visit the homes of U.S. citizens on weekends. Local Italian-American communities extended hearty welcomes to the POWs and meaningful, lasting relationships flourished. Romances between Italian POWs and American women were common, and many ended in long long-lasting marriages.

In its moving final act, "Prisoners of Paradise" follows four such couples, all whom married after the war, and investigates the unique challenges of the years since. As the former POWs have become citizens and raised families, all the while loving America and missing Italy.

Through these touching and sometimes humor stories, "Prisoners of Paradise" illuminates the profound cultural affinity between Italians and Americans, and offers a provocative meditation on the meaning of national identity in times of peace and war.

On a PBS station near you, this March!
KVIE (Channel 6) Sacramento-Stockton, California, Saturday, March 2nd 12 noon
WGBH (channel 2) Boston, MA, Tuesday March 5th 7 p.m.
WGBH (channel 44) Boston MA, Wednesday, March 6th, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday March 9 4:30 p.m.
WHYY Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, March 20th 11 p.m.

To Find when the program is airing in your area:
Go to the web site www.pbs.org/stationfinder

Impressive…. Great war stories in love stories VARIETY

"Beguiling…" Double take documentary film Festival

"Poignant…" Florida film Festival

"Chart Charming and humorous…" New Haven film Festival, 3rd Jury Award

Please tell your friends about these special broadcasts! If it's is not playing on your local PBS station, please call them and let them know you'd like to see it broadcast.

For more information about the program please call Camille Calamadrei or write:
504 West 110 Street (9B) New York, NY 10025

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