ITALIAN NEO-REALISM Struggling against reality in Italian
film
Slide 2
ORIGINS OF MOVEMENT As you might recall from our earlier
discussions of film, the struggle between realism and spectacle,
fantasy or non-realistic films is an old one.
Slide 3
ORIGINS OF MOVEMENT Remember the films of Georges Melies (A
Trip to the Moon) which is very abstract like later German
Expressionist films (Nosferatu, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari)
Slide 4
ORIGINS OF MOVEMENT By contrast to filmmakers like Melies,
early filmmakers such as the Lumiere Brothers attempted a more
realistic / naturalistic viewpoint in films such as The Great Train
Robbery that led, in part, to some of the gritty realism of noir
films such as The Third Man or Double Indemnity.
Slide 5
ORIGINS OF MOVEMENT Although no film (perhaps short of an
unscripted documentary) can truly capture reality, the Italian
Neo-Realistic movement was in reaction to heavily scripted and
artificial representations of real life in films up to that
time.
Slide 6
ORIGINS OF MOVEMENT Italian Neo-Realism was a reaction to
simplistic, American-style films that had been so popular during
the WWII years. Under Fascist dictator; Benito Mussolini (from 1924
through the end of the war) films called White Telephone (Telefono
Bianco) were popular and in contrast to later Neo-Realist films.
They included elements such as: Social conservatism Emphasized
respect for authority Stressed rigid class hierarchy Utilized
expensive Art Deco sets (indicating upper class wealth)
Slide 7
Elements of Neo-Realism Neorealism emerged as a product of the
Resistance in an effort to show reality and utilize the screen as a
self-reflective tool for building a new national identity as a
reaction to fascism. Film served as a platform for political and
civil awareness, sometimes even acting as a political battleground.
The plotlines are extremely dramatic and usually focus on a humble
protagonist who stereotypically goes against the myth of the
superhero. This character is then used to convey a message about
society, often acknowledging the brutal past, bleak present, and
expressing hope for a better future. The influence of Italys
convoluted history is evident in all plotlines and characters as
the audience is left to infer meaning from cultural significance
encoded into many films. (Italian Neorealism Film Techniques)
Slide 8
American Influences American cinema of the WWII era (overly
simplistic plots / happy endings) where life was shown as a
paradise on earth according to Neo-Realist filmmaker Frederico
Fellini, gave rise to Film Noir, which influenced the filmmakers of
Neo-Realism. They appreciated the gritty realism of Noir. American
literature was increasingly realistic as seen in authors such as
John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway. This embracing of realism
began to influence the make-up of Post WWII Italian film.
Slide 9
Key Elements of Neo- Realism Socially conscious (focusing
attention on real problems of society / shaking the status quo)
Extremely dramatic A humble protagonist (every man /
anti-superhero) Almost (but not quite) documentary style - still
has narrative elements Stressed group over the individual Tiny
moments drive the plot
Slide 10
Key Elements of Neo- Realism Scenes shown in real-time No
manipulative editing Scenes are shot on location No professional
extras and often a largely unprofessional cast. Set in rural areas
or working-class neighborhoods Stories focus on everyday people,
often children, with an emphasis on the unexceptional routines of
ordinary life.
Slide 11
Noteworthy Neo-Realistic Films The Bicycle Thief Caesar
Zavattini Toni Jean Renoir 1860 Alessandro Blassetti Roma Roberto
Rossellini Paisa - Roberto Rossellini Germania Anno Zero - Roberto
Rossellini La Terra Trema Luchino Visconti Shoeshine Vittorio De
Sica