PRODUCTION IN PROGRESS

PRESENTS:

RAISSA: LA MENTE, LO SGUARDO, IL CORPO

A documentary by MASSIMO D'ALESSANDRO

Following the critical and popular success achieved in 2023 with the documentary "HERE WE BEGIN TO PAINT WITH STONE" (directed by Massimo D'Alessandro), the OSTIA ANTICA ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK and the A.S.S.O. ETS are pleased to announce a new documentary project on the fascinating life of RAISSA CALZA ... the archaeologist who came from afar...

The extraordinary life of Raissa Gurevič Calza.
A captivating journey through art, revolutions, and archaeology.

PRODUCTION STAFF:

Scientific Coordination: Marina Lo Blundo (Ostia Antica Archaeological Park)

Executive Production: Mario Mazzoli, Maria Teresa Pilloni (A.S.S.O. ETS)
Screenplay and Direction: Massimo D'Alessandro
Cinematography: Marco Vitelli (A.S.S.O. ETS)
Estimated runtime: 52 minutes
Language: Italian (English, French, and German subtitles)
Premiere: December 2026

From her noble origins in Tsarist Russia to her rebellion against the regime, Raissa lived through epic moments in a complex historical context. She shared her life with artists, poets, and leading figures of European art, from Luigi Pirandello to Giorgio De Chirico, her tormented love. Her personal story, marked by passions and struggles, reflects the pulse of 20th-century Europe.

After the October Revolution, Raissa reinvented herself at the heart of the Italian intellectual world, contributing to Rome's cultural life as a dancer, muse, and later an archaeologist. Ostia became her adopted home, where, with dedication and tenacity, she left an indelible mark on archaeological research, becoming a key figure in Italy's postwar cultural landscape.

The courage and strength of a woman who never backed down in the face of adversity: from the expropriations following the revolution to her rebirth in Ostia, from divorce to new personal and professional achievements. An odyssey filled with art, love, and discovery.

Raissa Gurevič: a story of resilience and passion that redefined the way culture and archaeology were experienced in the 20th century.

LE TRE VITE DI RAISSA

Birth and Early Childhood: Raissa Gurevič was born in 1894 in Odessa to an upper-middle-class Jewish family. She received an education typical of wealthy girls in Tsarist Russia, with foreign governesses who taught her German and French.

Education and Adolescence: She spent part of her childhood in Poland and visited Sanremo every year for health reasons. In 1914, the family moved to St. Petersburg, where Raissa attended a prestigious school and began to cultivate an interest in art and dance.

The October Revolution and Relocations: The October Revolution changed the family's life, and they retreated to Tervus, Finland, until her mother's death in 1920. Subsequently, Raissa and her family moved to Italy to live with their patron, Riccardo Gualino.

First Marriage and Artistic Life: Raissa moved with her husband Krol' to Berlin and then to Rome, where she frequented Olga Signorelli's intellectual circle. She performed as a dancer in theatrical productions, meeting figures such as Luigi Pirandello. During this period, she began her relationship with Giorgio De Chirico.

Relationship with De Chirico and Life in Paris: Raissa moved to Paris with De Chirico, becoming his muse and model. She enrolled at the École du Louvre, where she deepened her study of ancient art, and experienced a period of intense artistic fulfillment until the end of her relationship with De Chirico in 1931.

Return to Italy and Work in Ostia: Raissa returned to Italy and began working on the archaeological excavations in Ostia in 1933, collaborating with Guido Calza. Despite the difficulties posed by the racial laws, she continued to work on the excavations and specialized in Ostian sculpture, becoming a prominent figure in the field.

Her work as a photographer—now preserved in the thousands of photographic plates held at the Ostia Antica Archive

Final Years and Honors: After Guido Calza's death, Raissa continued to work in Ostia and received important honors for her contribution to archaeology. In 1967, she was awarded the Gold Medal of the Presidency of the Republic. In her final years, she lived in a nursing home and died in 1979; she was buried in the Sant'Ercolano Cemetery in Ostia Antica.