It takes a village.
The history of New York's iconic Greenwich Village comes alive in writer and filmmaker Richard Natale's Greenwich Connection, a novella, and interconnected short stories spanning the second half of the twentieth century, from the waning days of WW II through to September 11, 2001. The novella and subsequent short stories feature a rainbow collection of eccentrics, misfits, lovers, and friends, all united in their quest for connection, acceptance, and a sense of community.
The novella, In the Fall of Forty-Four, begins in Naples in 1944 during the American occupation and quickly moves to the razzle-dazzle of New York City, the epicenter of American creativity and economic prosperity during the post-war era. We follow the central characters' often tempestuous lives through the end of the century, during which their on-again, off-again relationship is buffeted by political and social upheaval. The short stories that follow focus on several of the minor characters depicted in the novella, all of whom have flocked to Greenwich Village from near and far. Their respective fates become inextricably entwined in the enormous historical and social changes unfolding around them.
For much of its existence, Greenwich Village has been a refuge - for the dispossessed, the misunderstood, and the lonely - seeking to throw off the shackles of oppression; a haven in which they were free to express their dreams, and desires without fear of censure. Their respective triumphs and tragedies are interwoven throughout the novella and the short stories. While the location is specific, the Village in those years was emblematic of the broader historical and cultural shifts in the nation as a whole. These ordinary, and not-so-ordinary lives reflect the countless others who emerged from the shadows during the latter half of the 20th century and demonstrate how their destinies were shaped by and have given shape to our recent history.
As one of the main characters states: "If you're out of place, Greenwich Village is the place for you. A great thing, about the Village is that you can cover it on foot in a single afternoon. Best place to walk if you just want to be left alone. Or if you're looking to meet a stranger. Lots of trees and pocket parks. And gated private streets and alleys. And diners and coffeehouses where you can hang out all day and shoot the breeze. And more kooks per square inch than anyplace else in the whole goddamned world. Artists and derelicts and square pegs. My kind of people. Interesting and funny. And sad. And smart. And annoying. And weird. And a few, downright scary. There were some posh people too. You know, the artsy-fartsy types. But also a lot of everyday Joes. And for flavor, a few goombahs. Some of the Village folks were waiting on their big break, barely scraping by, bussing tables during the day and sometimes working the streets at night. Some were crooked as sin. Some were Holy Rollers. Somehow, we all got along."
