Swapping crime for culture
Usually reserved for the most serious criminals and renowned for its volume of Mafiosi detainees, in Poggioreale, di Vaio found himself in a cell with a man who was later proved to be innocent. Di Vaio’s cell mate sparked in him an interest in culture which was to become a turning point for a new life away from crime.
On his release, di Vaio set up a refreshment stall in a temporary Roma camp to make ends meet. Gradually he became a part of their community, learning their language and eventually writing a screenplay about their life in the camp. Since then, di Vaio has continued to develop his career as a film producer and writer, and published an autobiography earlier this year.
Until recently, Di Vaio had lost contact with his former cell mate, but a lucky coincidence reunited the film producer with the man who first set him on the road to success.