Cinema as a site of memory: thoughts from amateur Super-8 films re-edited in the short film 'Supermemórias'

Abstract

This paper aims to study amateur films, made in a private context, as a powerful way of creating memory. To do so, we first present a theoretical analysis on the idea of “sites os memory” (Nora 1984) and also on the desire to protect memory, which calls to action the amateur filmmaker. Lastly, we analyse two Super-8 amateur films produced in Fortaleza (Brazil), in 1978, which were re-edited in the short movie Supermemorias (Danilo Carvalho, 2010). This analysis evidences the editing process as a way of constructing new sites of memory and allows us to reafirm that the amateur film production can instigate interesting and relevant contemporary investigations.