Behind the lens: Five facts about the Rio de Janeiro film collection
Exploring the captivating Paschoal Nardone Collection in the General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro.
Cristo RedentorGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
The history of a city caught on film
The films in the Nardone Collection are like a time capsule, showing the nuances of Rio's urban environment. Various shots paint a vivid picture of the city's past. Explore five key facts about them.
PelículaGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
1. More than 2,000 meters of film!
The Nardone Collection comprises 122 9.5 mm films and two 16 mm ones, a total of 124 – that's more than 2,000 meters of film. Each one is a unique window into the history of Rio de Janeiro. Initial estimates placed the date of the collection between 1920 and 1930. However, the digitization process has revealed that it extends into the 1940s.
Revisão manualGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
2. From the roll to digital media: A painstaking process
Before being digitized, the rolls of 9.5 mm film went through a meticulous cleaning and repair process. This involved a careful manual check to ensure the preservation of Rio's visual history. The entire digitization process was concluded within a few weeks.
Man smoking on rooftopGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
3. Preserving the past: A race against time
With films that were almost 100 years old, the collection faced a serious threat: vinegar syndrome. This condition, which is common in older films, causes deterioration and may lead to irreparable damage.
Two men posing for the cameraGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
4. A home movie camera
These films were recorded with a pioneering movie camera, the Pathé-Baby, developed by the French company Pathé-Frères (Pathé Brothers).
Vista aérea da Praça ParisGeneral Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
5. A window to the past
The films allow for the exploration of some of the city's iconic landmarks while they were under construction or undergoing modifications. They reveal the transformation of the city's skyline and the consolidation of its cultural identity.
From the busy streets to the iconic city landmarks, the films and photo collections capture the essence of Rio's history, depicting daily scenes and major transformations.
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
Eduardo Paes
Secretary of State
Eduardo Cavaliere
General Archive of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Rosa Maria Araujo
Documentation Center
Maria Thereza Kahl Fonseca
Curatorship and editing
Conrado Werneck Pimentel
Historical researchConrado Werneck Pimentel and Yanara Galvão (LUPA-UFF)
Text revision
Pedro Paulo Malta
Interns
Luísa da Costa de Oliveira and Marcelle Araujo Lins
Film digitization
LUPA/UFF - University Laboratory for Audiovisual Preservation
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