Cinema: Italian Neo Realism

Theft, poverty, depression and life post World War II were the themes around which Italian –neo realism flourished. This type of cinema first originated in Italy from 1944-1954. As the name suggests the neo realist films were centered on the lives of the middle class. The films were dramas and sought to send out hard hitting messages through celluloid. The focus clearly shifted from fantasy to reality, there was also the use of non professional actors. The amazing storylines and cinematic excellence are some of the factors that put Italian cinema on the map and continually effect contemporary global film-making.

It has been said that Italian neo realism picked up pace after the fall of Bonito Mussolini. Most of the films served as a platform for political and civil awareness. The plots revolved around the life of an ordinary person who fought all odds. The films then focused on the dire circumstances of the people, and tried to express hope for a better future. Italy’s state post WW II was in complete contrast to what it is today.

Before Italian neo realism came to the forefront there was what was called “white telephone” films or Telephoni Bianchi. These films were set in the background of the upper class people. The entire storylines were based on their lives and focused more on themes like family values, respect for authority, and rigid class hierarchy. One of the main reasons Italian neo realism was encouraged was because of the lack of money. Most of the studios where “white telephone” films were made were all crushed because of the war. This post war destruction was in a way a good means through which directors sought to make more believable films. Studios were replaced by films that were completely shot outdoor. Italian neo realist films were any day more convincing, people at that time were ridden in financial crisis and neorealist films in a way helped them cope and relate to the characters. Bicycle Thieves is one of the most popular neo realist films. It followed the story of a man struggling to make ends meet in post war Italy. Some of the other popular films were La Strada, Open City, Stromboli etc.

Most of the neo realist film-makers like Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, and Vittorio Di Sica used the common man as the theme of the films and used to mock the lives of the wealthy upper classes.  There is no doubt that Italian neorealist films have found its way into cinema of every country. Although Italian Neo realism was short lived it was succeeded by the French New Wave and Japanese New wave in France and Japan respectively. Neo realism also reached the Indian shores and seen the making of a number of films that had strong neo realist characteristics. Some of the films were ‘The Apu Trilogy’, Aadukalam, Salaam Bombay, the Runaway, Two Acres of Land etc.

Without a doubt neorealism put Italy on the maps and changed the way the world viewed Italian cinema.