The Dumb Girl of Portici

Two of the most iconic and talented women of the 20th century, Lois Weber and Anna Pavlova, teamed up to create this romantic silent drama. Shot in 1915 and recently restored, The Dumb Girl of Portici follows the love affair of the mute Fenella, a poor Italian girl, and her lover, the wealthy Spanish aristocrat Alphonso. In her only starring role in film, prima ballerina Pavlova (1881-1931) portrays Fenella. Gesturing with her whole body, her graceful dominance commands the screen to the point that the audience is almost grateful for the lack of dialogue; any distraction from her performance would be criminal. Weber (1879-1939), a pioneering auteur and arguably the most powerful woman director in film history, simultaneously captures the intimacy of an illicit love affair and the war and chaos stirred by it. The Dumb Girl of Portici showcases the extreme responsibility each woman takes on in regards to her craft. Together they created a film that asserts its significance over a century after its creation. (Seattle International Film Festival)