Sguardi del Sud: Home Movies Archive Launches Southern Italy Collection
Sguardi del Sud, a new thematic section on the Memoryscapes platform, has been introduced by Fondazione Home Movies – Archivio nazionale del film di famiglia, focusing on amateur films from Southern Italy. This collection features over 400 films created between 1930 and 1987, showcasing daily life, rituals, and landscapes from the perspectives of locals, tourists, and anthropologists. Notable footage includes Enzo Mazzeo's 1970 recordings of tarantolati in Galatina (Lecce) and the funeral of healer Giuseppina Gonnella in Serradarce (Salerno). Additionally, it highlights works by emigrants, including Nicolò La Colla and Andrea Cavarretta's 1948 color 16mm film of Trapani's salt pans. This project was developed in partnership with the University of Catania as part of the Archivi del Sud initiative, which also involves the Universities of Calabria, Palermo, and Suor Orsola Benincasa of Naples.
Key facts
- Sguardi del Sud is a new section of Memoryscapes, a platform by Fondazione Home Movies – Archivio nazionale del film di famiglia.
- The collection includes over 400 amateur films from Southern Italy, dated 1930 to 1987.
- Footage covers events like the miracle of San Gennaro, the feast of Sant'Agata, tarantolati rituals, and the funeral of Giuseppina Gonnella.
- Enzo Mazzeo filmed tarantolati in Galatina (Lecce) in 1970.
- Giuseppina Gonnella, a healer from Serradarce, was killed during a possession ceremony.
- Emigrant films include those by Nicolò La Colla (from Salemi, Trapani) and Andrea Cavarretta (Sicilian emigrant to New York).
- Andrea Cavarretta's 1948 color 16mm film shows the salt pans of Trapani.
- The project was developed with the University of Catania and other universities as part of Archivi del Sud.
Entities
Artists
- Enzo Mazzeo
- Giuseppina Gonnella
- Nicolò La Colla
- Andrea Cavarretta
Institutions
- Fondazione Home Movies – Archivio nazionale del film di famiglia
- Memoryscapes
- University of Catania
- Universities of Calabria
- University of Palermo
- Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples
- Gazzetta del popolo
Locations
- Southern Italy
- Galatina
- Lecce
- Serradarce
- Campagna
- Salerno
- Salemi
- Trapani
- Turin
- New York
- Italy