Maria Elvira Giuseppa Coda, later married Notari, was born in Salerno on February 10, 1875.

After graduating as a teacher, she devoted herself to teaching in schools for a few years. Until she moved to Naples, where she met her future husband, Nicola Notari, a photographer, whom she married in 1902.

He began by assisting him in the hand-coloring of film frames and films, and gradually the two expanded their business: since Naples was at the time a very sensitive area for film culture, they decided to open a production company, Dora Film, which was destined to be an international success.

Elvira, endowed with a pronounced creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, became its de facto coordinator, directing between 1906 and 1930 over 60 scripts, including films and documentaries.

His favorite subjects were drawn from the reality of the Neapolitan slums: he staged-often with nonprofessional actors-true life stories, dramatic plots and vicissitudes in which the audience could mirror themselves.

Beyond verism, Notari also showed special attention to the psychology of the characters, demanding acting that was as realistic as possible, far from the emphasis and forcing of international cinema.

Dora Film ‘s intense production was a widespread success, even to the point of landing in New York, where a branch was opened, given the great demand and participation among Italian migrants.

However, within a few years, this way of filmmaking entered a crisis: the severe restrictions of the Fascist regime and the slow change of fashions and trends hindered the production of Neapolitan cinematography in favor of the far more spectacular and magniloquent national one.

Thus, despite numerous attempts to survive the crisis, Dora Film finally closed its doors in 1930.

Elvira Notari retired to Cava de’ Tirreni, where she died on December 17, 1946.

You can consult thebirth certificate on the Ancestry Portal: Salerno State Archives > Italian Civil Status > Salerno > 1875

The original is preserved at theState Archives of Salerno

For more on the figure of Elvira Notari, see the entry of the Biographical Dictionary of Italians edited by Antonella Pagliarulo.