Video id 3858

A very brief and rare fundraising clip from War World I. Shot in Milan, it shows images of the city center (La Scala and Banca Commerciale Italiana can both be recognized).
A child asks the befana, an imaginary old woman who brings gifts to good children at Epiphany, for the victory of the war and the return of her father, a soldier in the war. The befana goes to the snow covered war front and enters a tent where an allegory of Italy is singing the national anthem to the soldiers and asks the befana to collect money. The befana then goes to factories, to the house of wealthy people and to farmers to fill her stocking with money. The image of the stocking full of money is superimposed by a map of Italy. A sign invites Italians to contribute to the "New Consolidated Loan" and a crowd of people shows up at the Banca Commerciale Italiana in Milan. The child is happy for her father’s return, which happens under the kind gaze of the allegory of Italy standing behind the door. The last image is of the allegory of Italy while in the lower part of the screen symbols of the Roman Empire pass by.

Film restored in collaboration with CNC - Service des Archives du Film.