Il lungo silenzio (The Long Silence). 1993. Italy/Germany/France. Directed by Margarethe von Trotta. Screenplay by Felice Laudadio. With Carla Gravina, Jacques Perrin, Alida Valli. In Italian; English subtitles. 93 min.
Over the years, Adrienne Mancia developed close ties with curators and film professionals worldwide, not only bringing prints of classic titles to MoMA’s collection but promoting works of strong artistic, social, and political relevance that offered an impactful reflection of their times. Margarethe von Trotta, one of New German Cinema’s most relevant voices, was certainly part of that roster. In Il lungo silenzio, von Trotta extends her interest in the confluence of politics, terrorism, and intimacy in 1990s Italy, showing a society broken apart by the Mafia’s murderous acts. Additionally, von Trotta shifts away from a traditionally male-dominated narrative to focus on women grieving for lives lost and forever damaged. The film was written and co-produced by former Venice Film Festival director Felice Laudadio, with whom Mancia collaborated as a curatorial advisor.