neorealismo

Neorealismo, or Italian neorealism, was a film movement that emerged in Italy during and after World War II, roughly from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s. It sought to portray the realities of postwar life, focusing on the poor and working class and addressing issues such as poverty, unemployment, housing, and social injustice. The movement favored on-location shooting, natural light, and stories drawn from everyday life, often using non-professional actors or performers with a more understated style.

Key figures associated with neorealism include directors Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Luchino Visconti, along with screenwriter Cesare Zavattini. Notable works include Rossellini’s Rome, Open City (1945) and Paisan (1946); De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette, 1948) and Umberto D. (1952); and Visconti’s La Terra Trema (1948). These films typically presented morally ambiguous situations, avoided romanticized narratives, and offered a documentary-like portrayal of ordinary people confronting hardship.

Impact and legacy of neorealism extended beyond Italy. It influenced European and world cinema by demonstrating how cinema could engage social issues with a humane, intimate approach. The movement helped popularize the use of real locations, non-professional casts, and understated performances, shaping later movements and directors, including observers in the French New Wave. Although neorealism declined in the early 1950s as Italian cinema broadened to other genres, its emphasis on social reality and human vulnerability remains a defining characteristic in film history.