North and South: two early texts about cinema-going by Louis Couperus

Abstract

This paper reprints and puts into historical context two contrasting reports of cinema-going by the Dutch writer, dandy and Italophile, Louis Couperus. While Couperus in 1911 wrote in denigrating terms about visiting an Italian cinema, five years later he praised Italian film shows in comparison with Dutch cinema-going. The two texts indicate Couperus’ strong opinions on cultural differences between northern and southern Europe, but also show how quickly ideas on movie-going changed over this time.