“Alberto Soncini, born in 1920, is one of those figures from my town who has always fascinated me. One of those people for whom life is wonderful ‘despite everything’ and must be lived with joy ‘despite everything.’
In his case, ‘despite everything’ is a sum of misfortunes that would have brought anyone else down. But not him: he lost an eye during World War II, returned to school after the war to earn a diploma and a job. He was married to a woman who never left the house for many years out of fear of what was outside. And finally, the death of his young nephew.
But ‘despite everything,’ Alberto is a smiling man who goes to the market and gets coffee with his blue metal walker. He lives alone, in the apartment next to his daughter’s.
These photos were taken in August 2017, during a sweltering afternoon. When I met him, he told me that his daughter ‘complained because I’m wearing this sleeveless shirt, but it’s too hot today, and I hate the heat. I think you won’t mind taking a picture of my muscular arms, will you?’ And laughing, he showed me the long scar on his left shoulder.
This happened when a grenade hit the boat I was on. I was very lucky, I only lost an eye and a bit of muscle… After that, I stayed in the hospital for several months and was then discharged from the army. I was very, very lucky.”
