Frida Kahlo in the Italian documentary "Proserpina and the Others"
25 November 2024
Proserpina and the Others explores how centuries of artistic representations have codified violence against women as a legitimate or even erotic element through a narrative that merges art history, sociocultural analysis, and international expert testimony.
Proserpina, Lucretia, Susanna, and other female characters who have been violated or submissive have been immortalized in numerous iconic representations of the past, including the sarcophagi of ancient Rome, the paintings of Tintoretto and Titian, and the works of Degas. Therefore, art contributed to the creation of a narrative that normalized violence and objectified women's bodies rather than just reflecting the social environment.
On the other hand, the testimonies of great female artists, from Artemisia Gentileschi to Frida Kahlo, have been able to portray the violated female body with painful participation, up to works of true denunciation signed by contemporary artists such as Marina Abramovic or Ana Mendieta.
The documentary was produced by GA&A Productions with the patronage of Fondazione Marisa Bellisario,
written by Mariangela Barbanente with the collaboration of Consuelo Lollobrigida and directed by Mariangela Barbanente and Francesco Masi.
