Revolutionary cinema: ranking the 10 greatest Italian neorealism movies


"... On the opposite end of that spectrum is the Italian neorealism movement of the 1940s and 1950s, a cinematic ideology that protested generations of social oppression. For decades leading up to the start of the Second World War, the cinema industry in Italy was tightly regulated by the government, with Telefoni Bianchi movies, which promoted the prosperity of the country, being the sole type of film being made. Yet, these films simply didn’t reflect the reality of contemporary Italy, with the struggles of the poorest people being seemingly ignored by those in power. ..."

  


"... As Italy struggled to climb out from its ruins in hopes of newfound political stability and redefinition after the era of fascism that had preceded it, the most prominent filmmakers of the country banded together. They created the neorealism movement, a cultural collective that sought to accurately portray the harsh realities of poverty, economic devastation and the personal wreckage that had become of Italy’s inhabitants. Prior to the movement’s origins, the Italian film industry had primarily been comprised of overly sentimental, glossy, Hollywood-like studio-led productions that largely overlooked what had indeed become of Italy during the awful global conflict. By contrast, the films of Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica and Luchino Visconti started to closely examine the hardships of everyday life in Italy, sticking to an ethos of using non-professional actors and shooting on location to capture an unbridled air of authenticity and honesty. ..."





"... By shooting on location and primarily employing non-professional actors, the films of the Italian neorealist movement breathe authenticity, providing an escape from the over-produced studio works of the era and a dedication to weaving narratives just as they would occur in real life. But who exactly are the key figures in the Italian neorealism movement? To answer that very question, we’ve compiled a list of the directors who saw it as their personal goal to push the cinematic efforts of their native Italy into new frontiers by exploring the economic, political and social conditions of the country following World War II. ..."


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