Sonia Bergamasco's documentary 'Duse – The Greatest' investigates Eleonora Duse's legacy

Actress Sonia Bergamasco has directed a documentary titled 'Duse – The Greatest,' investigating the life and enduring influence of legendary Italian actress Eleonora Duse, a century after her death. The film, produced by Propaganda Italia, Quoiat Films, and Luce Cinecittà, will be released in Italian cinemas on February 3, 2025, distributed by Luce Cinecittà. Bergamasco approaches the subject as a detective, focusing on Duse's physical presence on stage and her impact on acting, notably inspiring Lee Strasberg, founder of the Actors Studio, and subsequent generations. The documentary explores the scarcity of visual records—only one silent film of Duse exists—and examines the contemporary craft of acting through interviews with actresses, authors, artists, and scholars. It juxtaposes still photography, archival black-and-white footage, and contemporary film to analyze the actor's body. The film also connects to an upcoming fictional feature by Pietro Marcello, in which Valeria Bruni Tedeschi will portray Duse; Bergamasco's documentary concludes with a meeting between her and Bruni Tedeschi in Paris, bridging documentary and fiction. Charlie Chaplin and Meryl Streep are cited as admirers of Duse.