Director Valerio Ciriaci guides us on a fascinating journey, reconstructing the boldness of a figure who anticipated decades of film history. Elvira Notari was not just a director but a true pioneer of "realist cinema," shooting her stories on the streets of Naples. Her raw and direct style was revolutionary for its time: she used non-professional actors, capturing life as it was, with its dramas, passions, and poverty. It was a cinema that wasn't afraid to confront the harsh reality of violence, femicides, and overwhelming male power, while also telling of the will to live and the freedom never granted to a woman of her era. This approach to filmmaking put her on a collision course with the fascist regime, which preferred an idealized image of Italy. Her films, which dared to show reality without filters, were censored and then forgotten.

The true heart of the film, however, is the recognition that this rediscovery would not have been possible without a network of people and institutions. The meticulous work of scholar Giuliana Bruno, author of the foundational book "Streetwalking on a Ruined Map," laid the groundwork for the investigation. The documentary helps us understand that cinema is a collective art not only on set but also in its preservation and rediscovery, thanks to the tireless work of scholars, researchers, and institutions like the Cineteca di Bologna, which preserved and restored the rare surviving film fragments, and Luce Cinecittà for production.

The care and competence of everyone involved in the project are palpable in every scene. Every detail, every testimony, and every archival sequence has been handled with admirable sensitivity and professionalism.

Ultimately, "Elvira Notari. Beyond the Silence" is not just a film about a director but a work that reminds us of the importance of teamwork in giving justice to those who used art to show the truth, proving that culture and memory can only be saved through the commitment and dedication of some truly great people.

*Board Member, SRSN (Roman Society of Natural Science)
Past Editor-in-Chief Italian Journal of Dermosurgery