A vibrant community celebrating the prominent achievements of Italian cinema — from Neorealism to the present.
12 posts in Neorealism
Five years after his masterpiece, Miracolo a Milano – Miracle in Milan (1951), director Vittorio De Sica with screenwriter Cesare Zavattini, return to a familiar neorealist theme – social troubles of a young couple, played by unprofessional actors, facing a housing problem during Italy’s economic boom.
Stories about the common man emphasizing social issues, scenes shot in actual locations, and the use of non-professional actors – are the key ingredients of the Neorealist film movement in postwar Italy, which this film is one of its prominent expressions.
Right from the opening scene where you see the village women all veiled in black waiting patiently outside the mine for their husbands who refuse to come up to avoid the mine closing – you see direct similarities with another Neorealism harbinger – Visconti’s 1948 La terra trema (The Earth Trembles). Both films offer a great view into the Italian neorealism genre marked by social and economic hardships, use of non-professional actors and scenes shot on location vs. the studio.
In this post, I am not going to discuss a particular film but share with you a very special project I came across the other day.
Ever wondered what started the Oscar for Best Foregin Language Film category? It was Shoeshine, Vittorio De Sica's fifth film that initially received a Special Academy Award in 1948 and two years later for his masterpiece The Bicycle Thief.
Where have you been during winter 1946?
In one of the greatest accomplishments of the Neorealist film movement, Vittorio De Sica dedicates this film to his father and effectively captures the grim life of the elderly in post-war Italy.
Do your memories carry a soundtrack?
Take a close look at the this picture. What do you think is happening?
Individualism vs. determinism is it truly up to the individual to change his destiny or is it all predetermined?
It's August in Rome and it seems like the whole town has a single mission – go to the beach! You can watch this charming, time-capsule of a movie below (76 minutes, no English subtitles, though).
Do you remember your first job interview and your mom protectively cautioning you, don’t mess up this could be a great opportunity, practically work for life? Or an important exam you took at school and the following stress afterwards when your friends commenting - that was easy (no it wasn't!), prodding you the correct answer was 24, right?
