Signorinella: Little Miss

In 1940, as ever more countries lined up on either side of burgeoning global conflict, Italian migrant families in Australia were forcibly separated. While the men were rounded up and imprisoned in internment camps, the women were left to carry on alone in isolated pockets of community in suburbs like Carlton. Having little more than one another for company and the generations of tradition they had brought with them, these trailblazers would go on to transform the country they made home. In the wave of immigration that followed the end of World War II, Italian women were once again at the forefront of rebuilding the lives of their families. In the process, they left a lasting influence on Australian culture, permeating the realms of fashion, business, community leadership and more.

Twelve years after delighting MIFF audiences with their previous celebration of Italian migrant culture in Melbourne, Lygon Street – Si Parla Italiano, Shannon Swan, Angelo Pricolo and Jason McFadyen have returned with this charming documentary that focuses on the tenacity and spirit of Italian-Australian women. With its cast of wonderful nonnas and mammas and sublime archival footage of 20th-century Melbourne, this tale of empowerment and resilience will appeal to fans of documentaries like The Lost City of Melbourne (MIFF 2022) – and to anyone who wants to understand more about the city, and country, in which this festival is held.