-Hi, I'm -Eric Ford for Made Here -!filmmaker Christopher Wiersema -from Montpelier, Vermont, -explores history and memory -in the -new experimental documentary -film Rough Blazing Star.

-Christopher creates -a unique vision, -combining an original score -and layered visuals -and interviews to explore -the confluence of anarchism, -history and memory -through historical records.

-The Old Labor Hall in Barre -and personal Memory.

-Rough Blazing Star won -the best documentary award -at the 2024 -Made Here Film Festival.

-You can watch Rough -Blazing Star -and other great Made Here -films -streaming on our website -and through the PBS app.

-Enjoy the film -and thanks for watching!

-(woman speaking Italian) -Do you remember -the old labor hall?

-Yeah.

-We used to go over there.

-You had like um -dancers, -you know, -the sort of a party place.

-Did you dress up?

-Did everybody dress up?

-Oh, well, -whatever they had, yeah, -!everybody was poor at that time.

-What do you remember -about the socialists -and the anarchists?

-What do you remember -about anything?

-Or did -your parents talk about it -when they invoked -politically?

-No, they never they never -got into it politically.

-You want to know -what the old Labor Hall is?

-Was built in 1900 -by Italian immigrants.

-They were, granite workers -in the trade here in Barre, -which is the main industry -in this community.

-And, they they, -I think, occupied -all the professions, -but particularly -the Italian community -from northern Italy, -where they had worked -in granite, some in marble.

-They brought with them -a lot of, -educational background -as sculptors.

-Many of them had gone -to some of the art academies -in northern Italy, -like the one in Milan.

-And, so they were skilled -carvers.

-So there is, -beautiful statuary -all over the city of Barre.

-And it was, really meant -to be kind of a home -for the Socialist -Labor Party, which was a, -a national party -that appealed to immigrants.

-They used it for, -dances -and parties, dinners, -they had all kinds -of meetings here.

-Debates.

-They also had a lot of, -political lectures.

-I remember when I first came -to Barre, -usually some set of flowers, -some of flowers on March, -a little ornamental guy, -because he had a -!Mr.

butcher used to do flowers, -I said, and naturally -Butcher said "oh Giuliano -in the job would be sitting -there for weeks on end.

-You know, -you said you do it -and they go shipped out -and they get -they get their money -from there.

-And I start carving -flowers, for them.

-It just came upon me.

-I mean, I knew how to go -about it and do it.

-And he just, -I go I could never -match the skill -of the older Italians, -cuz they got some beautiful -flowers.

-You were sitting in -your life.

-You're -better than the real one.

-(Singing in Italian) -(Singing in Italian) -(Singing in Italian) -Come on.

-On a little boat -and and hear the -the bloggers and so forth.

-Do you speak the Lambert?

-Well, -you speak Canadian, so.

-I couldn't hear you.

-Okay.

Yeah.

-Oh, yeah.

-Not lumber.

No, no.

-But you could understand -the lumber?

-Yeah.

Yeah.

-How old -are you Alba?

-Oh, my 105.

-I've been in the end of my -life.

-I'm just a bookkeeper.

-Bookkeeper at, -Sierra Granite Company.

-I came from the north end -I went to school there and -we just were poor people.

-You spoke -only Italian at home?

-Oh, yes, always Italian.

-Did your folks speak English -at all?

-Did they speak any English?

-Not too much.

-They had a little -grocery store and, -they were working -all the time.

-That's when they had bins.

-You know, they had beans -and a big, big bin.

-Where was the grocery store?

-Right on North Main Street.

-Okay.

-Oh, I love cooking.

-Yeah.

-Oh, yes.

-I used to cook a lot.

-I lived on (unintelligible) -I was cooking all the time.

-What was -your favorite thing to make?

-I used to gnocchi.

-Gnocchi.

-Your folks must have worked -in, they must have worked -in granite -when they came to Barre.

-Oh, yeah.

-So where did -where did your father work?

-I saw those vaults.

-Granite.

Probably.

Vaults -was.

Yeah.

-Vaults -was was a company then.

-He was a, -Surface machine.

-Okay.

-Oh, he had a trucking -company for the granite.

-He delivered monuments from -Barre down into New Jersey.

-Did you do the bookkeeping -for him?

-Yeah.

-Rossy trucking.

-Right?

-Rossy trucking.

-Do you remember the strikes -in Lawrence, Mass?

-The whole.

-Remember when all the kids -came from Lawrence Mass?

-And the strikes?

-Oh yes, I do.

What -do you remember about that?

-Well, I know that -there was that strike, -and they were putting some -in jail, and -my father would send them, -tobacco and stuff -that they could use.

-Who said they made antipasto?

-I did, I did.

-Oh, you did?

I did, yes.

-Oh yeah, wonderful.

-You look wonderful!

-Yes.

It is.

-Oh.

Condition.

-Hope Cemetery.

-Of course.

-Tonight is the perfect day.

-Because any tombstone -that you pick up, you know, -they look good!

-What are you looking for?

-I wonder if I signed it.

-I don't think so.

-I don't think so.

-Oh, are.

-You can consider.

-Even from the back.

-It's.

-It's unbelievable.

-The clouds they go.

-Close up.

-Lift them.

-But see how beautiful -you are in the back.

-Look, -it looks like a masterpiece.

-Look.

-Oh, oh, you lose -nothing but look.

See?

-You sure?

-Look at a shell.

-Oh, shell it is.

-Look.

-Is the same thing.

-Just.

-It's unbelievable.

-These rock people.

-They was clever.

-(unintelligible) -Oh, no.

Right here.

-I think.

-They.

-Ibelli Anarchico -is an anarchist.

So.

-If they put the date -when he died.

-But you probably, you know, -the the he was born.

-If he were right there.

-Live more time.

-Died.

-11-04-1909 -Because they didnt -know -when he was born, -they put the date -that he died -imagine the -sucker is buried right here.

-Anarchico -An-ar-chi-co -This is, -I'm an Anarchist.

-And, Mr. -Milligan, -this gentleman will give me.

-You know, -two spots for my wife and I.

-And he gave you.

-He just gave you this.

-He just gave me the -this plot right there.

-that I imagine probably cost -a couple thousand -dollars.

Yeah.

-Just like, look at them.

-See, everybody put there where they can see it.

-Mine.

-You got to find it.

-Look.

-Where's the name?

-You gotta find it, -right there.

-!You know, not everybody wants -to see their name.

-You know?

-And this to me, -it takes away.

-And then its all cursive -you know?

-What's it say?

-what's the name?

-Cecchinelli, -my last name.

-With your wife?

-That's your wife?

-That's my wife is a child -with a little dog.

-You know.

And.

- "Cecchi means -yourre blind.

-Oh, yeah?

-you think I'm blind?

-I rather don't.

-My eye sees what -nobody else see.

-You know, -as far as playing the.

-Game took them out -to the right.

-Ready?

-All right.

-This, my friends, -is a rough sketch -of anarchism, -of the ideal -you hate and persecute -the ideals of thousands -of men and women -in all spheres of life -who are proud -of being called Anarchists.

-You are shocked -when you hear that word.

-You shiver -at its very sound.

-Your fear -is the result of authority -which has instilled into you -the hatred for those -who wish you well, -who are at the risk -of their own lives -and comforts, -trying to free you from the -clutches of your masters.

-You do not -see our work in this light.

-You join in the cry -of fools and needs hating.

-The anarchists.

-But I see the time coming -when you'll understand -that all efforts to check -the growth of anarchism -are in vain, for -its teachings are based upon -the power of the individual -within themselves, -and not without -its philosophy -is based on the stern, -undisputable logic -that liberty is -just as necessary for men -as air, life and food.

-Do not waste your time -in trying -to stop the waves -of the ocean with a broom.

-It's useless already.

-The elements are growing -into immensity, -tearing down every obstacle -in the way.

-After the storm has passed, -the air will be calm -and pure, -and the world will be filled -with the -sweet odor of liberty.

-What's the thing that's -brought you joy in life?

-I love dancing and singing.

-I like singing so much.

-Do you still sing?

-Oh, when I can.

-I know it's a belief.

-You know, -Anarchism is -It's it cause, -you know, -I will do no harm to you.

-But I wouldn't want.

-Any harm that -youd do to me see.

-Just like, -it's a common thing.

-Beautiful?

-Flowers.

-I get flowers from -my children.

-(Laughs) -I don't think so.

-I don't know what I am.

-It's over.

-They feed me well here.

-Feed me very, very -well -take good care of me.

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-For more, -visit vermontpublic.org