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.

Andaimes do Cristo Redentor, 1932, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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Vista aérea da Avenida Rio Branco e Cinelândia., 12.02.1961, 12.02.1961, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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Copa do Mundo de 1950, 1950, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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fotograma, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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Banhistas na Praia de Copacabana, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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Foliões no Baile de Carnaval do Theatro Municipal, 1958, From the collection of: General Archive of Rio de Janeiro City
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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.

Credits: Story


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

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Rio de Janeiro: City of Culture
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