Melina Marchetta and Her 'Looking for Alibrandi'. The Tale of a Generation in Search of Identity

It is with great pleasure that the National Italian Australian Women’s Association and the Dante Alighieri Society Sydney announce this wonderful event to celebrate International Women's Day, to be held on Saturday, 9th March at 2 p.m. at the Canada Bay Club.

We are privileged to welcome renowned author Melina Marchetta as our guest of honour, the author of the celebrated novel Looking for Alibrandi. We are confident that many of you, especially second-generation Italo-Australian friends, have had the opportunity to know and appreciate this work.

It is worth noting that this extraordinary novel inspired a film adaptation of the same title, for which Melina Marchetta herself wrote the screenplay. A film of great artistic value, leaving a significant mark on the Australian cinematic landscape.

Melina, with utmost sincerity and authenticity, drew inspiration from her personal experiences, offering a narrative rich in honesty. It will be intriguing to hear directly from her about her childhood and adolescent memories within an Italian family, to contemplate the significance of dual culture, and to understand the origins of her desire to write this book. We will also enquire into how success and fame may have influenced her life.

Looking for Alibrandi has captivated readers in 14 countries, translated into at least 11 languages, and has garnered numerous literary awards, selling over half a million copies worldwide. Melina has created many other works, including Saving Francesca.

During the event, segments of the film will be screened, and we will have the participation of some extras. Given the importance of Melina Marchetta and the significant role she has played for second-generation Italo-Australians, we strongly encourage you to extend the invitation to your children and grandchildren. We are confident they will find in Melina not only a source of inspiration but also encouragement to pursue their dreams.

The event will be conducted in Italian and English. There will be a Q&A session. Coffee and tea will be provided.

We look forward to welcoming you all to this extraordinary gathering!