italian neo realism fact file

Question 1

The term Neo-Realism was first employed by Italian screenwriter ? in 1943 when describing Visconti’s ‘Ossessione’.

The movement set out to use a ?

Neo-Realism uses? the style was?

Answer 1

Antonio Pierangeli

documentary style to use location shooting rather than studio recreation to show reality in everyday life. (dropping in and out of the narrative with little-by way of explanation of history or predicted future) to focus on social reality (poverty, unemployment etc) to use natural dialogue and non professional actors to deliver it, and to avoid literary adaptation, instead of using ‘real’ stories developed for the cinematic medium. 

long takes, deep-focus cinematography, largely natural light, hand-held camerawork and (in the original Italian movement) dubbed sound, sparse, sharp and documentary like.

Question 2

Ideologically, the characteristics of Italian neorealism were:

Answer 2

1. a new democratic spirit, with emphasis on the value of ordinary people 

2. a compassionate point of view and a refusal to make (easy) moral judgements 

3. a conc. with Italy’s dictated past and its aftermath of wartime devastation 

4. a blending of Christian and Marxist humanism 

5. an emphasis on “emotions” rather than theoretical ideas

Question 3

Stylistically, Italian Neorealism was:


Answer 3

1. an avoidance of neatly plotted stories in favor of loose, episodic structures that naturally evolve
2. a documentary visual style 

3. the use of actual locations-usually exteriors-rather than studio sites 

4. using nonprofessional actors, for principal roles too 

5. use of conversational speech, not literary dialogue (which is highly structured, constructed and stylised according to specific film dialogue conventions) 

6. avoidance of trickery in editing, camerawork, and lighting in favour of a simple style

Question 4

Key Terms, People, and Concepts

Italian Neorealism, “white telephone” films “rich and glittering environments” , Open City, Roberto Rossellini, Luchino Visconti, location shooting, post-synchronized sound

Answer 4

Italian Neorealism, “white telephone” films “rich and glittering environments” , Open City, Roberto Rossellini, Luchino Visconti, location shooting, post-synchronized sound

Question 5

Things to Look For

Answer 5

Things to Look For
• the similarity between the first and final shots of the film
• location shooting
• the use of natural and ambient (mood) lighting
• camera movement
• long takes
• the use of negative space (i.e. empty, unfilled, white, or blank space; e.g. bare walls, empty lots, open skies)

Question 6

Neo-Realism Summary

Narrative/Thematic Characteristics of Italian Neorealism

Answer 6

1. interest in everyday life, particularly that of the working class: The drama of these films is the drama of ordinary events which happen to ordinary people—vs. Hollywood (and other nations’) films’ focus on the rich, heroic, or exceptional
2. presentation of real social conditions and a call to improve: In all Italian Neorealist films, failures of both individuals and institutions (such as the Police, Labour, and the Church) are presented as both conditional and systematic. Italian Neorealist films implicitly ask their viewers to ponder what can be done to alleviate these failures.
3. the use of a serial protagonist: Think of a serial protagonist as a roving camera lens—in many Italian Neorealist films, there is no clearly defined protagonist and we abruptly shift attention from one character to another. Even when the focus is on one individual character, he or she is representing a large class of characters.
4. a sad, but not entirely (-) tone: These films often are searching for a way to marry Humanist and Marxist concerns, to make individual and group needs consistent with the other.
5. a lack of narrative resolution, intentionally open endings

Question 7



Formal Characteristics of Italian Neorealism:

Answer 7

1. location shooting (biggest film studio was damaged during war)
2. rough, unpolished look
3. use of unknown, non-professional actors
4. unglamorous: ambient lighting,little make-up, etc.
5. post-synchronized sound (sound dubbed after filming, even dialogue)
6. long takes, tracking shots, negative space