Italian neorealism

Quick Facts: Who was Italian neorealism?

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Italian neorealism

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A post-WWII Italian film movement focusing on the struggles of the poor and working class.

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Origins & Early Life

Italian neorealism (Italian: Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age of Italian Cinema, was a national film movement in Italy in the aftermath of World War II. It explored the contemporary everyday life and struggles of the poor and the working class, addressing the difficult economic and moral conditions of the country changes in the Italian psyche. Frequent topics include poverty, oppression, injustice and despair. Films of the era were filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. Italian neorealist films have become explanatory discourse for future generations to understand the history of Italy during a specific period through the storytelling of social life in the context, reflecting the documentary and communicative nature of the film.

Career & Major Achievements

Although some have traced the origin of Italian neorealistic films to Soviet montage films, Soviet filmmakers often described the people's opposition to class struggle through their films, while neorealist films aimed more broadly to showcase individuals' resistance to reality in a social environment. Italian neorealism came about as World War II ended and Benito Mussolini's government fell, causing the Italian film industry to lose its centre. Neorealism was a sign of cultural and social change in Italy. New realism films are considered to be films with specific styles and philosophies that emerged during the turbulent period after World War II. Its films presented contemporary stories and ideas and were often shot on location as the Cinecittà film studios had been damaged significantly during the war.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The neorealist style was developed by a circle of film critics that revolved around the magazine Cinema, including: Luchino Visconti Gianni Puccini Cesare Zavattini Giuseppe De Santis Pietro Ingrao Largely prevented from writing about politics (the editor-in-chief of the magazine was Vittorio Mussolini, son of Benito Mussolini), the critics attacked the Telefoni Bianchi ("white telephone") films that dominated the industry at the time. As a counter to the popular mainstream films, some critics felt that Italian cinema should turn to the realist writers from the turn of the 20th century. Many of the filmmakers involved in neorealism developed their skills working on Calligrafismo films in the early 1940s (although the short-lived movement was markedly different from neorealism). Elements of neorealism are also found in the films of Alessandro Blasetti and the documentary-style films of Francesco De Robertis. Two of the most significant precursors of neorealism are Jean Renoir's Toni (1935) and Blasetti's 1860 (1934).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1935: 1935 Milestone — Two of the most significant precursors of neorealism are Jean Renoir's Toni (1935) and Blasetti's 1860 (1934).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Italian neorealism

True or False: “The primary focus of neorealist cinema was always to critique the political failings of the ruling government in every film.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it addressed social injustice, its aim was more broadly to showcase individuals' resistance to reality within a social environment, rather than solely targeting specific political failures.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Italian neorealism