Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

Impact on World CinemaImpact on World Cinema

Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

Characterized by…Characterized by…Focus on poor or working classFocus on poor or working classFilmed on locationFilmed on locationUse of non-actorsUse of non-actorsDealing with changes in post-WWII ItalyDealing with changes in post-WWII ItalyChanges in economy, morality, everyday Changes in economy, morality, everyday

lifelife

Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

Famous Titles:Famous Titles:Rome, Open City Rome, Open City (Roberto Rosselini, 1945)(Roberto Rosselini, 1945)Germany Year Zero Germany Year Zero (Roberto Rosselini, 1948)(Roberto Rosselini, 1948)Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio de Sica, 1948)Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio de Sica, 1948)Umberto D (Vittorio de Sica, 1952)Umberto D (Vittorio de Sica, 1952)La Strada (Federico Fellini, 1954)La Strada (Federico Fellini, 1954)

Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

Rome, Open City

Germany Year One

Bicycle ThievesLa Strada

Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

A Perfect Storm:A Perfect Storm:Propaganda FilmsPropaganda FilmsMovie Tone News ReelsMovie Tone News ReelsFailing economy and unavailable film Failing economy and unavailable film

studiosstudios

Italian Neo-realismItalian Neo-realism

In the beginning…(1943-1948)In the beginning…(1943-1948)Neorealist films focused on the pathos and Neorealist films focused on the pathos and problems of Italians trying to survive a war problems of Italians trying to survive a war ravaged countryravaged country

In the end… (1948-1950-ish)In the end… (1948-1950-ish)The stories became more upbeat to mirror The stories became more upbeat to mirror the improving atmosphere in Italythe improving atmosphere in Italy

Impact on World CinemaImpact on World CinemaThe gritty visual style and subject matter The gritty visual style and subject matter

informed the informed the film noirfilm noir trend in the trend in the 1940s/50s1940s/50s

Realistic storylines, less glamour, more Realistic storylines, less glamour, more truth emerged in Hollywood filmstruth emerged in Hollywood films

Everyday life became more interesting—Everyday life became more interesting—settings like the classroom, the office, and settings like the classroom, the office, and a married household emergeda married household emerged