Italy had been under the fascist regime of Mussolini since 1924. The Neorealist movement began at the end of WWII when Mussolini's government fell. This movement was the response to the great depression and sought to make everyone aware of the suffering and social problems in Italy due to the lack of social awareness. Neorealism portrays the view of society as ppl that are indifferent to the suffering of others.
White Telephone Films are a sub-genre of melodrama from the 1930's that showed the troubles in upper class Italy. They imitated american comedies of that era. These films provided a comedic relief to reality for italians, and a contrast to their predecessors. There were also a lot of unrealistic "italian life" american films imported at this time.
Form and Style
Italian realism has a distinct visual style that creates it realism.
- Preference for filming on location
- Using non-professional actors
- Preference for natural lighting style
- Documentary style of photography
- Avoidance of complex editing and post-production processes
- Stories were focused on the poor and working class
Luchino Visconti
Directed Ossessione (1943). The movie is based off the book The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain and is a story about a drifter who falls in love with a diner owner and plots with her to kill the husband. The movie went against the mussolini regime in that it showed Italy in a less than flattering view which is why is is not considered a full neorealist film. This was at the time that mussolini's government controlled how films showed Italy, and making sure it was never negative.
Robert Rossellini
Produced the war trilogy Rome Open City(1945), Paisa (1946) and Germany year Zero (1948).
Vittorio De Sica
Had a career of 55yrs. He directed 35 films and acted in more than 150. He is responsible for The Bicycle Thief (1948) which is considered an Italian Neorealism masterpiece and listed as one of the greatest films of all time in many places. He used location shooting and non-professional lead actors to show the themes of unemployment and effect of post war conditions.
The Bicycle Thief
I dont agree that it is one of the greatest films of all time. I understand it fit the era, but I consider The Shawshank Redemption as more appropriate for those lists. The non-professional actors definitely lent a realistic feel to the movie, making it easier for the viewer to empathise with the characters. The bike represents the fathers hopes of escaping poverty to me, a symbol of wealth that gets ripped out from under him the day after he gets it back. He goes from indifference, to hopeful and excited, then beings to spiral down into into the dark side of the law using manipulation and bullying to try and get his bike back due to desperation. His son starts off idolising his father, even dressing like him, but over time becomes more and more disillusioned until the father takes them to a restaurant and blows his money trying to forget their problems for a moment.
Overall the movie is an interesting portrayal of poverty and struggle during the depression. The desperate measures someone will go to, to cling to that little piece of hope at all costs even if it means compromising your morals. The whole movie showed a great contrast between upper and lower class as it progressed, the great divide so to speak. There was no happy ending either which differs from todays movies, but is a more realistic portrayal of life at the time. After watching the entire film, I still dont think it should be considered one of the greatest of all time, but I can see why it struck a chord with the ppl at the time and potentially skewed everyones opinions due to the strong association with their lifestyle. This in turn would help lift its ratings as a movie.
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