Borsellino and Falcone: death of anti-mafia magistrates [Cities and Memory]

2018 is the 26th anniversary of the Mafia murder of anti-mafia prosecutors Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone and of their escorts. They have become symbol of an Italy that fights and does not surrender to organised crime. Cosa Nostra bosses have been condemned for the killings but there is still the shadow of alleged State-mafia talks over the two bomb slayings of Falcone and Borsellino. Sicilian prosecutors called the investigation into the Borsellino killing "the biggest cover-up in Italian history".

In my recording I have put together the newsreader breaking the news of Falcone’s killing, together with the voices of people discussing the impact of those killings, as well as pro-mafia protesters at a ceremony for the naming of a public space to their memory. I have also included the voice of Falcone himself saying that the mafia is a human made phenomenon, and as such it’ll pass soon or later.

I have distorted the original sound to make it ominous and menacing, highlighting basses and low frequencies. The original recording appears as a contrast of 'joyous patriotism'. I am not implying any relation between the soldiers singing at the parade and the killing of the two magistrates, I have just used the song as a representation of the Italian state, covering up and colluding with the mafia.

Created for Cities and Memory.