The project of the Association of Italians of Pula and Istria – Free Municipality of Pula in Exile “Oh dear land of mine” was born from the development of the book “Forgotten Exoduses, People of Dignano Who Leave” by Maria Grazia Belci, who collected, through live recordings and images, the testimonies of exiles and citizens of Italian origin residing in Pula and its territory.

Forty-four interviews were conducted, providing a significant snapshot of life before and after the events of the Second World War in the communities of Pola, Dignano, Gallesano, and Valle.

The central theme is the exodus, with all its historical and human implications. Alongside this, stories of daily life before the conflict emerge, as well as the experiences of those who chose to remain, confronting the profound transformations that followed.

The testimonies reveal stories marked by hardship and suffering, but also by lasting bonds, adaptability, and resilience, as well as significant elements of the rural and maritime life of the area.

The video version of the project further enhances these stories, conveying the depth of emotion through the faces and expressions of the interviewees: from the bitterness of abandonment to the emotion of their return.

ALL INTERVIEWS:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wy9e887grbx9ihgbmylr1/ACadBMLAZm4UhLTAIkQbnrc?rlkey=h6z63bfb3t6mb5rb6ewlaix7b&dl=0