Before Hollywood's studio system began manufacturing movie stars, Europe was ruled by divas, stage actresses who achieved massive acclaim and critical prestige, making them true national icons of popular adoration. Pietro Marcello revives the figure of Eleonora Duse, a legend in Italy at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, to explore, from the actress's mature stage, the rise of fascism in her country. A subject the filmmaker had already tackled in Martin Eden (2019), a more balanced and brilliant film in its revision of historical cinematic drama. Marcello understands well that the fascination of divas, also as individuals, lies in their contradictions and in how they embrace life's most tempestuous dimension.