A' SANTANOTTE::: Silvia Cignoli, live soundtrack

restored by CSC – Cineteca Nazionale

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Maria Elvira Giuseppa Coda (known as “Elvira Notari”; Salerno, 10 February 1875 – Cava de’ Tirreni, 17 December 1946) was Italy’s first female film director.

Her work is considered a precursor to Neorealism.

Of the many films she made between 1906 and 1929—some 60 feature films and hundreds of short films and documentaries—very few have survived the passage of time, censorship, and an era in which women’s artistic achievements were not recognised. Among the surviving works is ‘A Santanotte.

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Plot:

Nanninella (Rosé Angione) is a young maid who is the victim of an alcoholic father. One day, Tore Spina (Alberto Danza) and his friend Carluccio come to the girl’s aid when her father beats her in anger because she has failed to bring him something to drink. Both men immediately fall in love with her.

Their friendship is consequently destroyed by jealousy. Nanninella, however, falls in love with Tore, and Carluccio devises a plan to take her away from him.

First, he bribes her father by paying for his alcohol, so much so that the man gives up his job as a shoeshine boy, which he had been doing alongside Gennariello (Eduardo Notari). The condition for continuing to supply him with alcohol is that he refuse to give Tore permission to marry his daughter.

When even this fails to break the young couple apart, Carluccio goes further. During an argument between Tore and Nanninella’s father, Carluccio strikes the father from a distance, causing him to fall into the sea. The man dies, and Carluccio gives false testimony against his friend, sending Tore to prison despite his innocence and bringing great suffering upon his poor mother (Elisa Cava).

Gennariello discovers the truth, however, and tells Nanninella. In order to obtain confirmation, she agrees to marry Carluccio. Gennariello tries to prevent the girl from making this ultimate sacrifice and helps Tore escape from prison, but he is too late: Carluccio marries Nanninella and confesses what he has done. Faced with the deep hatred expressed by the woman he loves, he loses his mind and stabs her.

Tore then arrives at her home, unaware of what has happened.

The ending is tragic: Nanninella dies in Tore’s arms as he rushes into the house, consumed by a desire for revenge. Yet revenge will never be carried out, because his former friend has by now completely lost his mind. Faced with the impossibility of undoing what has happened, nothing remains but the deepest despair.

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Photos taken at:

• Sequenze Frequenze Festival, Tirana (Albania), organised by the Italian Cultural Institute of Tirana in collaboration with Robot Festival, with artistic direction by Luca Maria Baldini

• B-Movie, Hamburg (Germany), organised by the Italian Cultural Institute of Hamburg

• Italian Cultural Institute of London