UNNECESSARY THINGS ARE OUR ONLY NECESSITIES ISSUE 40
STONEY MONTANA
BLUE MOVIE
FLYING FINGERS
ITALY’S ALPINE PARADISE VALLEY CLIMBED, DINED AND CONQUERED
JUDE LAW STARS IN THE MOST LUXURIOUS COMMERCIAL EVER CREATED - WE APPROVE
WE TOOK EXPENSIVE GUITARS AND WHISKIES AND MADE A ROCKTAIL, IF YOU WILL
THE LOT OF THE COMMON MAN Speak Truth To Power, they said. With the members of the Kennedy clan and Prince Albert of Monaco in the room, it looked like power was doing the talking.
The I Defend Gala 2015, in support of the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation, took place on 16 July in the heart of the Principality of Monaco. Hosted in the wet dream for fans of the floating – the Riva Tunnel where the original vessels were made – it was the kind of exclusive black tie event that most aspirant secret agents would love to get a seat at. After an introduction by Lia Riva herself, our host for the evening was Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Bobby Kennedy and another possessor of that famous vibrato-driven, Maineinflected accent. Master of Ceremonies was famous US journalist and current biographer of Silvio Berlusconi, Alan Friedman. A video showing her childhood at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port featured the clan welcoming JFK and Bobby back from White House business as they jumped out of Marine One.
Stunning actress and Italian presenter Giorgia Surina read an onstage testimony from actual defenders of human rights. ‘Speak the truth to the power…’ she ended. ‘Speak Truth to Power’, reiterated Friedman. The focus of the evening then moved on to a live auction that saw François Tajan, Co-President of famous auction house Artcurial, reach more than €300,000 between live and silent auction bids. A big hit on the night was an image shot by famous photographer Harry Benson of Robert Kennedy with Kerry herself and sold for €16,000. Benson, well into his eighties, looked on in a mixture of pride and distant reflection. The very first model of the new Fiat 500 Convertible, customised by the artisan Umbrian Stefano Conticelli and donated by the Fiat house in Turin, was secured by a US guest for €55,000
with the motto ‘I have a dream’. The artist and craftsman, invited on stage, presented his ‘creation’ with a video screening of the making-of, advocating the excellence of Italian craftsmanship. Though whether a car covered in tan leather on the outside will appreciate in value is yet to be seen. During the inaugural cocktail, the guests were graced with the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and a majestic dinner, organised by the team of chef Gualtiero Marchesi, took in his famous gold and saffron risotto, his lobster with a cream of sweet peppers and his Italian meringue with red currant sauce accompanied by bubbly Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and the wines of the Sardinian winery Pala. Frank La Rue, a highly regarded lawyer and expert in human rights is Director of European operations of Robert
F Kennedy Human Rights. He has, since 2008, also been Special Rapporteur for the United Nations on matters of freedom of expression. His expressions found it hard to be free as the secret auction seemed to excite the audience more than his emotive speech detailing his experiences as an man marked for death in his own country and exiled in 1981. The next day an exceptional tour for journalists and celebrities on board of Riva’s boat, ‘Venere’, took in a delightful morning that culminated with the visit to the Aquarama Lounge of the Yacht Club of Monaco and lunch for 20 guests. Thus a unique journey with beautiful moments dedicated to the unique principles of ethics and human decency, united by the beauty of what man, in the arts, has been able to produce. At least that’s what the press release said. ●
VISIT RFKCENTRE.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EVENT