The death of Berlinguer

When I was in Rome in 1984, an obviously well-known public figure died. He was the head of the Communist party. I had no idea who he was, but the response made clear his popularity was much greater than I expected of a Communist leader. There were other instances when this could be felt, but the going home of a group of his followers after a remembrance meeting that I photographed here made it very real. The way they walked home, encountering other people (like the fashionably dressed lady left in the photo), tells a lot.

It was my intention to have some sort of movement in the way they walked, but that didn't turn out the way I wanted. Nonetheless, the photo is a quiet witness of something greater than just a group of people going home. Your comments are very welcome.

I remember very well that day for having witnessed live the death by stroke of this leader of the Communist Party, in dissent with the Soviet Union, while making a speech on live television. He too was a Sardinian and like all islanders, he was not very expansive, very serious, tenacious in his own ideas. At his funeral he was honored by all political forces. You have well documented this day and the orderly crowd returning home with great sadness , ciao Giangiorgio

Hi Giangiorgio,

 

thank you so much for your wonderful and relevant comments! It is of great value to me to hear about this event from someone who has an active recollection of that day. I didn't know he was a Sardinian too; I guess that colors the memory to some small extent. Kind regards, Vincent

Vincent, I felt the power of this image before reading your introduction and Giangiorgio's astute comments. The image reminded me of a scene from "Dr. Zhivago "(movie). A pro-communist demonstration was about to end , but the Cossacks sent to disturb it did more than that; they used the swords indiscriminately regardless of whether people were still demonstrating. The woman in the bottom left seems a bit interested in the processional. Yet all the other passers-by seem totally disinterested. Outstanding street work! - - My best always, michael

Hi Michael,

 

thank you for your relevant and intresting comparison to the scene from 'Dr. Zhivago'! I am very glad there are still people here that can 'read' photos like this one and you have read this one very closely; your comments are spot-on. Kind regards, Vincent