Italian historical drama. (English: At the Revolutionary celebration)
The film revisits D’Annunzio’s occupation of Fiume in 1919–1920, an extraordinary episode that mixed militant Italian nationalism with political rebellion, avant-garde art and utopian experimentation. For more than a year, the city became a strange combination of military regime and anarchic carnival, marked by Futurist theatrics, sexual freedom, gambling, piracy and war. The film emphasizes the libertarian side of Fiume, presenting it as an early example of the rebellious counterculture that would repeatedly surface throughout the twentieth century.
Man, I missed this chapter in history class. Italy was goin’ full Eyes Wide Shut and instead of studying that, we were reading about the Wilmot Proviso.
Fiume had D’Annunzio, armed irregulars, political theater, utopian constitutions, Futurists, piracy, sex, drugs, nationalism, revolution, and an ending involving the Italian navy shelling a poet out of town.
Wilmot had a caveat.
That said, the world can never have enough provisos. We owe Wilmot so much. Civilization rests on provisos. Without Wilmot, every sentence would have to commit to something. He may not have stopped slavery from expanding, but he gave generations of lawyers, diplomats, and nervous dinner guests the confidence to say, “Yes—but with one important proviso.” A modest legacy, perhaps, but imagine contract law without him. Chaos.
And it really broke the ice at social gatherings. “Hey – you’re the proviso dude. Up top, bro!” He was a major celeb.
Zachary Taylor, soon to be elected President, wrote in his diary:
A hush fell over the ballroom as the guests recognized the latest arrival. Even President Polk was silent in such a presence. It was David Wilmot. The silence was broken by a single voice, shouting “Say the thing.” Wilmot demurred, but the crowd took up the chant. “Wilmot. Wilmot.” Finally, Wilmot raised his right hand, indicating he would speak. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am only here to indulge myself in the gracious hospitality of our host … (disappointed murmurs) … with one proviso (thunderous applause).”