This article originally appeared in
November 7, 2007
Italians protest details in Lee's
'Miracle'
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- A group of former partisan soldiers are taking aim at Spike Lee for
the way their former cause is being depicted in Lee's in-progress film
"Miracle at St. Anna."
The $45 million film, based on the best-seller by James McBride, is set in
the Tuscan countryside during World War II.
The film will tell the story of a group of black soldiers caught between enemy
lines who come upon a town of partisans -- Italians who fought against
Mussolini's Fascists and their Nazi allies -- seeking to find a traitor in their
midst. Filming started Oct. 15.
The film also will include a recounting of what Italians refer to as the "St.
Anna Massacre," in which 560 civilians -- women, children and elderly men
-- were slaughtered and then burned by German troops in retaliation for
partisan activities.
The veterans accuse Lee of changing history to suit his story, and they have
demanded that that part of the story be removed or changed.
"It is a false cinematic reconstruction of events that ignores the real story and
will leave an inaccurate impression," partisan veterans Moreno Costa, Enio
Mancini and Giovanni Cipollini said in a statement released Tuesday. "The
term 'cinematic license' should not mean that the truth can be ignored."
The three veterans did not say how many other former soldiers they
represented.
Messages left with Lee's temporary Tuscan offices were not returned.
'Miracle'
By ERIC J. LYMAN
ROME -- A group of former partisan soldiers are taking aim at Spike Lee for
the way their former cause is being depicted in Lee's in-progress film
"Miracle at St. Anna."
The $45 million film, based on the best-seller by James McBride, is set in
the Tuscan countryside during World War II.
The film will tell the story of a group of black soldiers caught between enemy
lines who come upon a town of partisans -- Italians who fought against
Mussolini's Fascists and their Nazi allies -- seeking to find a traitor in their
midst. Filming started Oct. 15.
The film also will include a recounting of what Italians refer to as the "St.
Anna Massacre," in which 560 civilians -- women, children and elderly men
-- were slaughtered and then burned by German troops in retaliation for
partisan activities.
The veterans accuse Lee of changing history to suit his story, and they have
demanded that that part of the story be removed or changed.
"It is a false cinematic reconstruction of events that ignores the real story and
will leave an inaccurate impression," partisan veterans Moreno Costa, Enio
Mancini and Giovanni Cipollini said in a statement released Tuesday. "The
term 'cinematic license' should not mean that the truth can be ignored."
The three veterans did not say how many other former soldiers they
represented.
Messages left with Lee's temporary Tuscan offices were not returned.
| (c) 2007 The Hollywood Reporter All rights reserved. |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
| Volume 77; Number 9 |
Lee, with the Mayor of Fiesole (left) and a
translator.
translator.
November 7, 2007
Italians protest details
in Lee's 'Miracle'
September 22, 2007
Italian cast picked for
Lee's WWII drama
July 17, 2007
Lee scouting Tuscany
for next film
July 10, 2007
Lee says he is not part
of the 'mainstream'
Italians protest details
in Lee's 'Miracle'
September 22, 2007
Italian cast picked for
Lee's WWII drama
July 17, 2007
Lee scouting Tuscany
for next film
July 10, 2007
Lee says he is not part
of the 'mainstream'