Women and Super-8 Cameras: Public and Private Dimensions in Norma Bengell’s Footages

This article examines the use of the Super-8 camera by the actress and filmmaker Norma Bengell, whose collection is housed at the Cinemateca Brasileira. This research, initiated in 2018, maps amateur films from the period of Brazil’s military dictatorship, emphasizing how private images can reveal historical and political tensions. Bengell documented both significant events and intimate aspects of her life, such as the release of Inês Etienne, the first political prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in Brazil. The study explores Bengell’s career, her transition into directing, and her contributions to feminist cinema. Additionally, it highlights the influence of the Super-8 film movement in Brazil (superoitismo), which played a key role in democratizing film production.