Italian Cinema’s Invisible Women and a Chocolate Cake That Speaks Volumes

A quiet Roman exhibit honoring the forgotten women of Italian film—plus the rich, fudgy cake I turn to when life feels a little too much.

Dark chocolate layer cake

Rome is bursting at the seams this Jubilee year with visitors crowding into major landmarks and museums. But just steps away from the chaos lies an extraordinary cultural experience you won’t have to elbow your way into.

InVisibili - Le Pioniere del Cinema (Invisible - The Pioneers of Cinema) just opened a few days ago at the Istituto Centrale per la Grafica and runs through September 28, 2025. This moving and beautifully curated exhibition celebrates the women who helped shape the language and art of Italian cinema—many of whom have remained invisible in the official narrative of Italian film.

Promoted by Italy’s Ministry of Culture and produced by Archivio Luce Cinecittà—Italy’s national film archive and one of the oldest, most comprehensive audiovisual collections in Europe—InVisibili brings together 30 groundbreaking Italian women whose contributions span directing, screenwriting, editing, costume design, and film production.