Italian neorealism

Rome, Open City (1945) - Roberto Rossellini
Wikipedia - "Italian neorealism (Italian: Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age of Italian Cinema, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class, filmed on location, frequently using non-professional actors. Italian neorealism films mostly contend with the difficult economic and moral conditions of post-World War II Italy, representing changes in the Italian psyche and conditions of everyday life, including poverty, oppression, injustice, and desperation. ... Neorealist films were generally filmed with nonprofessional actors although, in a number of cases, well-known actors were cast in leading roles, playing strongly against their normal character types in front of a background populated by local people rather than extras brought in for the film. They are shot almost exclusively on location, mostly in rundown cities as well as rural areas due to its forming during the post-war era. ..."
Wikipedia
cineCollage :: Italian Neorealism
10 great Italian neorealist films
15 Essential Italian Neorealism Films You Need To Watch
NY Times: Neorealism in Postwar Italy
YouTube: How Italian Neorealism Brought the Grit of the Streets to the Big Screen, Italian Neorealism

Bicycle Thieves (1948) - Vittorio De Sica