NSFF | The Dumb Girl of Portici

Naples, in the mid-seventeenth century. Fenella is a poor fisherwoman who cannot speak. When a Spanish nobleman seduces her and then abandons her, she is left heartbroken. Her brother Masaniello sees not only his sister’s grief, but also the oppression of his people. He rallies a crowd and sets a revolution in motion.

The Dumb Girl of Portici is based on the 1828 French opera La muette de Portici. It is the only feature film to star legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. Her expressive performance and movement give Fenella a voice without her ever speaking a word.

At the time, this was Universal’s most expensive production to date. Directors Lois Weber and Phillips Smalley created a historical spectacle with large-scale action sequences, lavish costumes and vast sets. The result is both a tragic love story and an early blockbuster, made by one of the most important female pioneers in film history. The film also contains a surprising connection to Dutch history.

About the Netherlands Silent Film Festival
The Netherlands Silent Film Festival (NSFF) in Eindhoven is the largest festival dedicated to silent film in the Netherlands. In this original form of cinema, stories are told through images, expression and music. Without spoken dialogue, the inventiveness of the filmmakers takes centre stage.

At the festival and through programmes presented throughout the year, NSFF makes the cinematic heritage of the silent era accessible to a wide audience. It does so through film screenings, educational projects, workshops and lectures. The creativity and innovation of early cinema deserve to be seen and heard again.

For its programme, the NSFF team follows current developments in the international world of silent film, from recent rediscoveries and restorations to new research. Audience favourites share the bill with hidden gems, all presented with live musical accompaniment by international film musicians.