"At a time when Italy was headed towards World War I and later fascism, and women's rights were hardly discussed (universal suffrage would come much later), a few female figures dominated the screen, overshadowing their male counterparts. They became the stars of visual culture. They were divine, and, in fact, the term "diva" was created for them. But they were also real and, we'd say today, inspirational women. With their strenghts and determination, they instantly became role models and produced legions od imitators, in the history of fashion and international entertainment". Gian Luca Farinelli