An Italian Dream

In 2025, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Italian-German agreement that brought thousands of Italians to Germany. Many of them went to the city of Wolfsburg, home to the nascent Volkswagen car industry. On the occasion of this anniversary, which marked the beginning of an extraordinary chapter in migration, we want to retrace some of the stages that characterised our arrival on German soil. It is a journey that will take us back to our past as emigrants and remind us of how far Italians had to go to first be respected as human beings and, over time, to prove their worth to the point of becoming the backbone of the local economy. For many who came from an Italy still impoverished after the war and with an uncertain future, it was a moment of hope and not just the dream of seeking new opportunities to improve the lives of their loved ones. It was also a great battle to have their dignity as human beings recognised, on a par with everyone else. In Wolfsburg, as in other cities, discrimination against Italians and foreigners was evident. Often, there were signs at the entrance to establishments prohibiting Italians from entering.
The documentary was an exciting journey, reconstructed through exceptional testimonies, visits to places from the past and original archive material. We listened to the voices of many figures who lived through those years first-hand and who have now become iconic personalities in the Italian-German community.
But it was not just a story about the past. It was also a reflection on the meaning of immigration today. Because the journey of Italians in Germany was a difficult one, like all migrations in history, a journey that took time but ultimately brought visible results.
Today, Italians in Germany have reached the centres of power, participate in decision-making processes and contribute to the development of the city. Prejudice against Italians has disappeared. Many anonymous immigrants contributed to their success with their suffering, but also with their dreams.

Director: Fausto Caviglia

Editor: Marco Rovetto 

Photography: Sonja Madani

Music: Giordano Maselli

Production: Orisa Produzioni srl

Original title: Un Sogno Italiano
Original version: Italian
Year of production: 2025
Lenght: 78′