Cineteca Leopardi. Indagine su filmati e documentari d’autore dall’archivio Luce e da Rai Teche

Abstract

Situated in the ever-widening context of the history of the reception of the figure and work of Giacomo Leopardi, the essay chooses the unusual side of Italian audiovisual archives, working on materials from the LUCE Institute and Rai Teche. From the examination of LUCE, in addition to commemorative and celebratory films dating back to the twenty years of fascism, two feature documentaries also emerged: Sulle orme di Giacomo Leopardi (1941) by Francesco Pasinetti; Giacomo Leopardi (1954), a colour film by Aldo Nascimben. The exploration of Rai Teche brought to light Recanati e la poesia di Leopardi (1968), a rare educational documentary with Natalino Sapegno and readings by Giancarlo Sbragia; La casa del padre (1979), an experimental film conceived by Nico Naldini with Giorgio Bassani as an exceptional reader. All the materials found are analyzed from time to time and placed in constant dialogue with Leopardi’s biography, literary activity and related critical bibliography.