Underplayed Gems

Amalia (1914)

Amalia poster
Directed by
Enrique García Velloso
Genre
silent film, historical drama
Country
Argentina
Runtime
1h 21m
Rating
5.5 of 10 from 4 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
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How it feels

Based on a 19th century novel, this silent film follows events in Argentina during the time of the dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas. It was made by a top playwright and features performers from Buenos Aires high society.

statelyearnesthistoricalformaldeliberateslow-pacedtheatricalnostalgic

What happens

Amalia is a 1914 Argentine silent historical drama film directed and written by playwright Enrique García Velloso, produced by Max Glücksmann and photographed by Eugenio Py, based on the 1851−1855 novel of the same name by José Mármol. The film was an initiative of the charity society Asociación del Divino Rostro, and the characters were played by a long list of members of Buenos Aires' elite. The film's premiere on 12 December 1914 was an unprecedented event for national filmmaking, as it took place at the Teatro Colón, the most prestigious venue for the high society and aristocracy of Buenos Aires, with the presence of President Victorino de la Plaza and his ministers. Contrary to popular belief, Amalia was not Argentina's first feature-length film, nor did it represent a stylistic breakthrough, as Nelly o la prima pobre was released the previous year, a 60-minute production sponsored by and starring members of elite charitable societies. Nevertheless, Amalia was the longest film up to that time, with an original running time of 3,000 meters, and is also the oldest surviving feature film of the country. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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