There is nothing quite like hearing Italian conversation in the background. Even the banter of everyday chatter can be a beautiful melody, because that is how Italian is meant to be spoken. It’s fluid, poetic. We are fortunate to live among native Florentine Italians in this casale, farmhouse, perched high on the hill overlooking the valley. The only way to make the language more beautiful is to expand it into something even more intense and impassioned—a party!

On a beautiful late spring afternoon family and friends began arriving at the Fantechi/Montagni home on the hill, where the celebration of Lucia’s babbo, father, Aldo’s 80th birthday festeggiamento, festivity, took place. Italians are typically close with family and friends and so such a milestone celebration is of utmost importance. We were honored to have been invited. To be able to listen in and watch the interactions firsthand is a treat unlike any other. Not wanting to miss an opportunity, we asked if we could bring our cameras along to capture some of what makes an Italian festa, party, so special. They said “sì, prego, yes, please do,” and so we did.

We documented this milestone event for posterity, as our gift to them. But also the party and the recording of it is useful to us, as part of our own process of better understanding the people and culture that we love so much. It was another rare opportunity to meet some wonderful new people. We discovered, upon reflection as our movie-making unfolded,  that we had stumbled into a shared universal human experience. Birthday celebrations are probably similar the world around. Despite the language and cultural differences, there is an underlying expression of mutual respect, love, and commitment, the essence of celebration never changes no matter where you are. Beyond the many apparent contrasts and differences in this vast and often confusing world, it is nice to pause for a moment to appreciate some of the basic human qualities that make us all part of the same family.

As we walked down the steps on our way home (next door), we smiled at the delightful sound of Italian conversation mixed with laughter as it floated on the breeze out into the distant valley and beyond.