In a poignant exploration of history and identity, film director Anja Medved reflects on her grandmother’s trauma stemming from the border drawn between Italy and Yugoslavia after World War II. “The border was always very present in my life, but I did not see that as negative. It was totally different for my grandmother… who had been traumatized,” Medved shared with AFP. Today, this once-divisive border has all but vanished, allowing the two neighboring towns to come together as joint capitals of European culture for 2025.
These two towns, while physically adjacent, present stark contrasts. Italy’s Gorizia features ancient cobblestone streets, cultivated over a millennium, while Slovenia’s Nova Gorica, which emerged in 1948 as a representation of Communist strength, boasts spacious, tree-lined avenues. The towns symbolize resilience, especially as Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and later joined the EU in 2004.
This year, an abundance of over 400 events will celebrate the towns’ joint cultural capital title under the banner “Go borderless.” Mija Lorbek, the project’s chief coordinator, aims to highlight and reconsider shared histories, stating it represents the first Rproject of its kind involving two towns from different EU nations. Medved passionately emphasizes that “borders are there to be overcome… The good thing of borders is they invite you to look over them.”
Medved reminisces about her youth in Nova Gorica, where crossing the border became possible in the 1960s, allowing residents to reconnect with family across the division. The vibrant differences between Italy and Yugoslavia crafted a unique sense of freedom for her: “You could ride your bicycle into a completely different world that had a different smell, colors where different, public buses were different — orange in Italy and green in Yugoslavia.”
Film director Anja Medved recalls her grandmother’s painful experience of separation due to the border established between Italy and Yugoslavia after WWII. Now, the towns of Gorizia and Nova Gorica unite as joint holders of European culture capital for 2025, symbolizing reconciliation and collaboration after years of division. Over 400 events will celebrate this partnership under the theme ‘Go borderless,’ aiming to redefine perceptions of borders in modern Europe.
The tale of Gorizia and Nova Gorica beautifully encapsulates the essence of reconciliation and the healing of historical wounds. As these towns shed the weight of their past and celebrate their cultural relevance together, they redefine boundaries not just in geography but in the minds and hearts of their people. Embracing their identity and differences, they emerge as a testament to how cultural collaboration can flourish across borders. This venture, marked by shared history and joint festivities, invites Europe and beyond to envision a future devoid of division, thriving on unity and the appreciation of diversity.
Original Source: timesofmalta.com
