SHARE

Filmmaker Records Stamford's Memories In New Documentary

STAMFORD, Conn. -- About five years ago Stamford lawyer Joseph Richichi approached filmmaker Michael Macari about interviewing city residents and recording their memories before it was too late.

Stamford native Michael Macari has created a documentary about his hometown,. It is titled 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers,' and it is about the city's people and how the city has grown over the years.

Stamford native Michael Macari has created a documentary about his hometown,. It is titled 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers,' and it is about the city's people and how the city has grown over the years.

Photo Credit: Michael Macari
The Landmark Building under construction, circa 1970s, taken from the documentary 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers.'

The Landmark Building under construction, circa 1970s, taken from the documentary 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers.'

Photo Credit: Michael Macari
A Stamford Veterans Day Parade in 1942. The image is taken from the documentary 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers.'

A Stamford Veterans Day Parade in 1942. The image is taken from the documentary 'Stamford: A Small Town Remembers.'

Photo Credit: Michael Macari

Last year, Richichi was able to see the finished product before he died in December. Now everyone will be able to watch the documentary, "Stamford: A Small Town Remembers," said its creator Macari.

"This was his vision to record the testimonials," Macari said as he praised his late friend.

The documentary will be screened Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Avon Theatre on Bedford Street. It is sold out. 

Macari, a producer, writer and director, owns EVTV. He made the documentary in association with the Stamford Historical Society. The movie traces the town's development from a small coastal town into a large regional city in New England.

"I think this is a source of pride for us," Macari, a Stamford resident, said about the city's rapid growth in the last few decades. "I'm not one of those people who bemoan what happened to our town."

Macari and Richichi brought to light the testimonies of Stamford's immigrants and war veterans and the city's history in the documentary. More than 40 on-camera testimonials were made by citizens and celebrities, and more than 70 people contributed photographs. 

He said the city became a landing spot for waves of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as they flocked to America to carve out their space and provide a better life to their families. Macari and Richichi wanted to ensure that those unique memories were never lost, and they worked to speak to as many people across Stamford as they could, he said.

ShopRite has backed the documentary and will sell DVD copies of it, Macari said.

The movie will also be shown at the Ferguson Library on on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with Macari.

to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE