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Terms in this set (23)
A Historical Moment
Italian Neorealist cinema began as soon as World War 2 ended in 1945.
- The film that brought in the movement-Rome, Open city - was actually shot during the war.
- It was a serious reflection on what happened during and immediately after the war.
- Insists on seeing with one's own eyes.
- The film that brought in the movement-Rome, Open city - was actually shot during the war.
- It was a serious reflection on what happened during and immediately after the war.
- Insists on seeing with one's own eyes.
Factors for Neorealist Cinema
- Experience of World War 2 raised consciousness .for a serious cinema with social purpose.
- War-time documentaries displayed a cinema different from entertainment.
- Light weight hand-held camera helped to break away from studio shooting.
- Documentary type shooting provided a direct encounter with social reality.
- War-time documentaries displayed a cinema different from entertainment.
- Light weight hand-held camera helped to break away from studio shooting.
- Documentary type shooting provided a direct encounter with social reality.
Roots of Italian Neorealism
- It was the first cinema coming out from WW2 that directly responded to the war.
- Influenced by French poetic realism in its long-take and moving camera.
- 19th century tradition of realism in arts.
- Tradition of location shooting in the silent era of Italian cinema.
- Experience of Fascist social propaganda.
- Influenced by French poetic realism in its long-take and moving camera.
- 19th century tradition of realism in arts.
- Tradition of location shooting in the silent era of Italian cinema.
- Experience of Fascist social propaganda.
Begging of the Movement
- In 1943 Mussolini was ousted and Germany invaded Northern Italy
- Allied forces moved into Southern Italy.
- Allies bombed Rome.
- Germany occupied Rome. The Italian moved to the Allied-held South.
- The situation in Italy was very confusing. Some Italian fought the Germans, some fought the Allies, and some fought other Italians.
- In 1944 the Allies entered Rome in June, then Florence in August.
- Germany held on to the rest of the North until 1945, when the Allies and Resistance liberated the country.
- Allied forces moved into Southern Italy.
- Allies bombed Rome.
- Germany occupied Rome. The Italian moved to the Allied-held South.
- The situation in Italy was very confusing. Some Italian fought the Germans, some fought the Allies, and some fought other Italians.
- In 1944 the Allies entered Rome in June, then Florence in August.
- Germany held on to the rest of the North until 1945, when the Allies and Resistance liberated the country.
Spirit of Neorealist Cinema
- The spirit of the neorealist cinema was born around 1943, a time of confusion.
- Both Chinese cinema were born under specific historical circumstances.
- Both believe in eye-witnessing the stuggle of the common people rather than fabricating it in the studios.
- Both Chinese cinema were born under specific historical circumstances.
- Both believe in eye-witnessing the stuggle of the common people rather than fabricating it in the studios.
Stylistic Characteristics of Neorealist Cinema
- Location shooting
- Post-synchronized sound
- The camera is thus free to move to create a more open mise-en-scene.
- Use of mostly non-professional actors/actresses.
- Post-synchronized sound
- The camera is thus free to move to create a more open mise-en-scene.
- Use of mostly non-professional actors/actresses.
Defining Neorealist Cinema
- Neorealist cinema is a movement of Liberation hope and post-Liberation disappointment.
- Cinema should bring the audience to "see reality with their own eyes," not just pleasant things. It is the moral imperative of cinema to sow the real.
- Far-reaching impacts on international cinema.
- Cinema should bring the audience to "see reality with their own eyes," not just pleasant things. It is the moral imperative of cinema to sow the real.
- Far-reaching impacts on international cinema.
Rossellini's War Trilogy
- Rossellini is a major director in Italian Neorealist cinema.
- Rome, Open City (1945) was the first feature to come out after World War 2.
- It was a landmark film that inaugurated neorealist cinema.
- Together with Paisan (1946), and Germany, Year Zero (1947) they formed Rossellini's war trilogy.
- Rossellini's War trilogy represents what he called the "balance sheet" of war. They are "eye-witness" accounts of what every side did during and immediately after the war.
- Rome, Open City (1945) was the first feature to come out after World War 2.
- It was a landmark film that inaugurated neorealist cinema.
- Together with Paisan (1946), and Germany, Year Zero (1947) they formed Rossellini's war trilogy.
- Rossellini's War trilogy represents what he called the "balance sheet" of war. They are "eye-witness" accounts of what every side did during and immediately after the war.
Rome, Open City
Roberto Rossellini, 1945
- Even though Rome was considered an open city for its status as a sanctuary there was brutal German oppression
- The story takes place in Rome in 1944. It is a harrowing drama about the Nazi occupation in Rome and the brave people who struggle against it.
- Giorgio Manfredi, one of the leaders of the Resistance, is tracked down by the Nazis and a fierce struggle breaks outs
- Script written with Amidei and Fellini.
- Planning for the film began during the German occupation.
- Film footage of different kinds were used (e.g. different grey tone, graininess, and so forth).
- Lighting could not be totally consistent since it was shot during wartime.
- Much of the film was based on actual events.
- Even though Rome was considered an open city for its status as a sanctuary there was brutal German oppression
- The story takes place in Rome in 1944. It is a harrowing drama about the Nazi occupation in Rome and the brave people who struggle against it.
- Giorgio Manfredi, one of the leaders of the Resistance, is tracked down by the Nazis and a fierce struggle breaks outs
- Script written with Amidei and Fellini.
- Planning for the film began during the German occupation.
- Film footage of different kinds were used (e.g. different grey tone, graininess, and so forth).
- Lighting could not be totally consistent since it was shot during wartime.
- Much of the film was based on actual events.
Rome, Open City - Stylistics
- Complex realist approach.
- Both conventional stereotypes.
-e.g. the black and white distinction between heroes and villains and the most documentary-like approach in all of its climatic scenes.
- Non-professional actors/actresses. Characters play themselves. But it also has well accomplished professionals who play major roles.
- Both conventional stereotypes.
-e.g. the black and white distinction between heroes and villains and the most documentary-like approach in all of its climatic scenes.
- Non-professional actors/actresses. Characters play themselves. But it also has well accomplished professionals who play major roles.
Response to the FIlm
- The Italian audience was lukewarm.
- The war had just ended five months before. The audience did not have much appetite for it.
- But the international response was overwhelming and it brought attention to Italian cinema. The film critics had never seen a war film like this.
- The term "neorealism" was coined.
- Rossellini's place in film history was sealed.
- Re-thinking conventional cinema.
- Seminal influence upon the formation of the French New Wave directors. Cited as an exemplary work by Godard ("...all roads lead to Rome, Open City").
- Stimulated the growth of cinema-verite ANdre Bazin, found in Rossellini strong evidence for his realist theory.
- The war had just ended five months before. The audience did not have much appetite for it.
- But the international response was overwhelming and it brought attention to Italian cinema. The film critics had never seen a war film like this.
- The term "neorealism" was coined.
- Rossellini's place in film history was sealed.
- Re-thinking conventional cinema.
- Seminal influence upon the formation of the French New Wave directors. Cited as an exemplary work by Godard ("...all roads lead to Rome, Open City").
- Stimulated the growth of cinema-verite ANdre Bazin, found in Rossellini strong evidence for his realist theory.
U.S. Reception of Rome, Open City
- The film was sold for $28,000 which just covered its production cost.
- Rossellini Used that money to make his next film Paisa.
- It scored $5 million in the U.S.
- Rossellini Used that money to make his next film Paisa.
- It scored $5 million in the U.S.
Paisan (1946)
- The script was written by Rossellini along with Amidei and Fellini.
- But acting was mostly improvised
- Represents his purest form of realism.
- More important neorealist film than Rome, Open City, where one can still see the melodrama and conventional cinematic form.
- This film has almost none of it.
- Consists of six unconnected episodes, a new form that had not been tried before.
- Covers the vast physical and cultural terrain of Italy.
- Starts from the south (Sicily) and gradually moves to the north, Naples, Rome, Florence, and so Forth. This also follows the route of the Allies.
- But acting was mostly improvised
- Represents his purest form of realism.
- More important neorealist film than Rome, Open City, where one can still see the melodrama and conventional cinematic form.
- This film has almost none of it.
- Consists of six unconnected episodes, a new form that had not been tried before.
- Covers the vast physical and cultural terrain of Italy.
- Starts from the south (Sicily) and gradually moves to the north, Naples, Rome, Florence, and so Forth. This also follows the route of the Allies.
Paisa - Style
- Each episode begins with a real documentary war footage. Rossellini was able to cut into his drama footage seamlessly.
- Paisa means countrymen in Italian.
- Emphasizes the partisan phase of the struggle. The tragic elements are more pronounced.
- One is shown the physicality of death.
- Paisa means countrymen in Italian.
- Emphasizes the partisan phase of the struggle. The tragic elements are more pronounced.
- One is shown the physicality of death.
Paisa: The American
- This is the first episode. The American soldiers just landed on Sicily. The village people do not know what is going on.
- A rural girl offers to guide the soldiers. Along their trip one soldier was killed by German snipers while the rest of the soldiers leave to find their way.
When the soldiers return they believe the girl has killed their comrade.
- A rural girl offers to guide the soldiers. Along their trip one soldier was killed by German snipers while the rest of the soldiers leave to find their way.
When the soldiers return they believe the girl has killed their comrade.