Defining Italian Neorealism: A Compulsory Movement

Authors

  • Esma Kartal Kadir Has University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2013.73

Keywords:

Italian Cinema, Neorealism, Post-war Cinema

Abstract

Being one of the most influential cinematic movements in film history, Italian neorealism has not been very easy to define. Although one can easily recognize a neorealist film, not all neorealist films share the exact same characteristics. In this paper, four films that have often been labeled as neorealist will be discussed in light of their makers’ views on neorealism and the general characteristics of neorealism as a movement. These films are Roberto Rossellini’s Germania anno zero (1948), Vittorio De Sica’s Ladri di biciclette (1948) and Umberto D. (1952), and lastly Federico Fellini’s La strada (1954).


Author Biography

Esma Kartal, Kadir Has University

M. A. student

References

Bibliography

Bondanella, P. (1992). The Cinema of Federico Fellini. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Bondanella, P. (2004). Italian Cinema: From Neorealism to the Present. New York: Continuum.

Pacifici, S. J. (1956). Notes toward a Definition of Neorealism. Yale French Studies, 17, 44-53.

Piepergerdes, B. J. (2007). Re-envisioning the Nation: Film Neorealism and the Postwar Italian Condition. ACME, 6 (2), 231-251.

Shiel, M. (2006). Italian Neorealism: Rebuilding the Cinematic City. London: Wallflower.

Venturi, L. (1949). Roberto Rossellini. Hollywood Quarterly, 4 (1), 1-13.

Young, V. (1956). Umberto D.: Vittorio De Sica’s “Super”-Naturalism. The Hudson Review, 8 (4), 592-596.

Filmography

Amato, G. (Producer), De Sica (Director). (1948). Ladri di Biciclette/Bicycle Thieves [Motion picture]. Italy: Produzioni De Sica.

Amato, G. & Rizzoli A. (Producers), De Sica, V. (Producer & Director). (1952). Umberto D. [Motion picture]. Italy: Amato Film, Produzione Films Vittorio De Sica & Rizzoli Film.

De Laurentiis D. & Ponti C. (Producers), Fellini F. (Director). (1954). La strada [Motion picture]. Italy: Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica.

Rossellini, R. (Producer & Director). (1948). Germania anno zero/Germany Year Zero [Motion picture]. Italy: Produzione Salvo D’Angelo & Tevere Film.

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Published

2013-06-10

How to Cite

Kartal, E. (2013). Defining Italian Neorealism: A Compulsory Movement. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 2(2), 140–148. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2013.73

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