ELVIRA NOTARI. A FEW NAPOLITAN EYES BEHIND THE CAMERA

Abstract

There are many women who, throughout the history of cinema, have launched themselves into directing films, and among them some pioneers stand out who, in the first decades of the 20th century, made notable contributions to the film industry, although for that reason they have not been recognized as they deserve. In Italy we can mention the Neapolitan Elvira Notari, who created her own production company - Dora Film - and made more than a hundred films by hand, with the collaboration of her husband and her children. His films, inspired by Neapolitan popular culture or social chronicle events, sought to identify the viewer. He also made a significant number of documentaries commissioned by Italian immigrants in America.