L'EMIGRANTE
THE EMIGRANT
Febo Mari / Italy / 1915 / 23 min / Black and white
A young man leaves his homeland to seek fortune in the New World, only to be met with marginalization, poverty, and deep isolation. L’emigrante, a silent short film from 1915 directed by and starring Febo Mari, offers a poignant portrait of early Italian migration, marked by shattered hopes and profound longing.
Febo Mari
Deceased in 1939, he was an actor, screenwriter, and director. Born into an aristocratic family of Spanish origin, the Rodriguez, he moved to Milan to work as a journalist and stage actor. He was artistic director of the Manzoni Theater and gained great popularity in the silent film era. He directed Il Critico (1913) and L’Emigrante (1915). In 1916, he directed Cenere, the only film ever to feature Eleonora Duse.
