In 2024, a movement called “Svuota la vetrina” (“Empty the Shop Window”) emerged in Italy, where readers buy out the entire shop display window of local bookstores as a symbolic and literal act of support for reading culture. The initiative began with a €10,000 purchase in Milan.
Similar actions soon followed in over 38 bookstores across Italy. This is not just a gesture of support for independent bookstores, but a form of protest against the Italian government’s policies, which marginalise culture and reading. For their series about books and people around Europe, our partners
@KrytykaPolitycznaTV went to Italy to meet the supporters of the movement. This shortdoc is also part of our “Stories Breaking Borders” series. To watch other films in the series, check out our channel.
