Italian Neo-Realism

Italian Neo Realism films were created for short period of time after WWII. These movies were a strong contrast from the "essentially American" style they were present and promoted during the rule of Mussolini. Neo realistic movies strongly contrasted these in both the process of making the movie and their ideology. Neo movies mainly focus on the working class and their role in society. They support the theme of "individual vs. the society". They also go against the ruling regime and represent the "resistance" and their anti-fascist beliefs. Directors were often urged to "go into the streets, into the barracks, into the train stations" to spread their ideologies and create a new era of Italian movies. Their aim was "not to record the social problems but to express them in an entirely new way". Neo movies used new techniques that were not as glamorous as earlier movies. They relied heavily on non-professional as well as on location filming. Film makers also used the natural lighting that they were supplied and stayed away from the man made studios. These techniques were used to create a realistic feel and that kind of documentary styling. Rome: Open City was one of these films to accurately express anti-Fascist ideas. It accurately expressed the cruelty that man had to face and inhumanity in the world. Bicycle thief also connects with middle class ideas and how Ricci has to fight against the power of his society. Support for the creation for of these movies mostly came film journals like Cinema and Bianca e Nero. Writers like Alberto Moravia and Italo Calvino began to compare these new kind of movies to realistic writing.