Development of Neo Realism
Chart the development of Italian Neo-Realism and discuss its influence on later European and American film-making.
Italian neorealism was established in the 1940 and is now a national film movement branded by narratives which are set around the ordinary lives of the poor and the working class. The majority of films within the movement are filmed on location, commonly the use of nonprofessional actors are incorporated to reinforce the realist impression. Italian Neorealist films mostly portray the everyday struggle of life, and commonly document the lives of Italians living in Italy after World War 2.
Italian neorealism became major movement after the release of Roberto Rossellini’s Open City. ‘Roma Citia Aperta (Open City) is widely regarded as the most important film in Italian cinema history’.(Brunette.P,1987,pp.41). This historic masterpiece sparked off the movement, which despite being short lived influenced many contemporary directors film making practices.
Fascism emerged in Italy in 1922, this ensured all films were hi jacked by propaganda. In1926 the fascist Italian government set up the Italian film societies this resulted in directors receiving funding for films from the government. In order to receive maximum funding for filming practices, film makers made an increasing amount of propaganda films .This process successfully continued and in 1935 the Centro Sperimentale was opened. The Centro Sperimentale was a government sponsored films school which allowed aspiring directors and film makers alike to experiment all of their skills. The intentions of the government however were to train all of these aspiring films makers, to an extent where reeling off propaganda films were an effortless process. Ensuring these aspiring film makers would only channel their energy in to propaganda films, the Italian fascists banned the screening of any Hollywood movie in 1938. They also believed that Hollywood movies could influence the Italian people to think twice
Italian neorealism was established in the 1940 and is now a national film movement branded by narratives which are set around the ordinary lives of the poor and the working class. The majority of films within the movement are filmed on location, commonly the use of nonprofessional actors are incorporated to reinforce the realist impression. Italian Neorealist films mostly portray the everyday struggle of life, and commonly document the lives of Italians living in Italy after World War 2.
Italian neorealism became major movement after the release of Roberto Rossellini’s Open City. ‘Roma Citia Aperta (Open City) is widely regarded as the most important film in Italian cinema history’.(Brunette.P,1987,pp.41). This historic masterpiece sparked off the movement, which despite being short lived influenced many contemporary directors film making practices.
Fascism emerged in Italy in 1922, this ensured all films were hi jacked by propaganda. In1926 the fascist Italian government set up the Italian film societies this resulted in directors receiving funding for films from the government. In order to receive maximum funding for filming practices, film makers made an increasing amount of propaganda films .This process successfully continued and in 1935 the Centro Sperimentale was opened. The Centro Sperimentale was a government sponsored films school which allowed aspiring directors and film makers alike to experiment all of their skills. The intentions of the government however were to train all of these aspiring films makers, to an extent where reeling off propaganda films were an effortless process. Ensuring these aspiring film makers would only channel their energy in to propaganda films, the Italian fascists banned the screening of any Hollywood movie in 1938. They also believed that Hollywood movies could influence the Italian people to think twice
Bibliography: Filmography: Rome Open City (1945, Roberto Rosselini) Bicycle Thieves (1948, Vittorio De Sica) Room at the top (1959, Jack Clayton) Poor Low (1967, Ken Loach) Career Girls (1997, Mike Leigh) This is England (2006, Shane Meadows) Easy Rider (1969, Dennis Hopper)