Neorealism Flashcards
Name 3 iconic Italian REALISM directors
VERISMO
Giovanni Vergo
Luigi Capuana
Define the concept of Expressionism
Fears of destructive aspects of sciences, monsters and aliens
Define the concept of surrealism
looking inward, showcasing dreams
What kind of cinema was happening in italy before neorealism?
Italian cinema promoted fascist ideology by glorifying the roman empire
“obey the authorities”
What are white telephone movies?
Films in the 30’s 40’s made to promote fascism in a twisted way: “family values”, respect for authority, rigid class hierarchy
~Taking you back to that glorified time
What did filmmakers do in response to White telephone movies?
Made films that featured REAL life
Who directed obsession (ossessione), what year did it come out and what was its significance?
Luchino Visconti 43’
Featured real life / bleakness of working class
Which novel was ossessione based on?
The postman always rings twice
How was the use of cinema being influenced by WWII?
Used as a propaganda tool
Name 3 institutions Mussolini created to support the development of film and the years they were made
- Venice FF 32’
- Film School 35’
- Cinecitta 37’
Name two german propaganda films directed by the same man. Who was the director and when were they released?
Leni riefenstahl
Triumph of the will 35’
Olympia 38’
What incident caused ‘the birth of neorealism’?
When Cinecitta is bombed in 43’ filmmakers are forced to shoot in streets with low budgets / amateur actors
Name 5 key elements of neorealism
“Real Life”
1. Non-professional
2. Pseudo-documentary
3. Open end stories
4. Shot on location (no studio)
Non fascist vibes
5. Left wing, no obvious discrimination
Which kind of angle is often used in neorealism?
Eye level
Which years did italian neorealism become popular?
After WWII: 43-50
When did the italian critics all become filmmakers?
With the fall of fascism in 1945
*they can tell their stories without authorities interfering!
Which film did Roberto Rosselini direct that came out months after the nazis left?
Rome Open City 45’
What did martin Scorcese famously say about neorealism?
Neorealism is “Rehabilitation of an entire culture and people through cinema”
Which key factors influenced the decline of neorealism?
Rising economy, audience wants more optimistic films
Which year(s) indicate the decline of neorealism?
Early 50s
List 3 poppin neorealist directors
Luchino Visconti
Roberto Rosselini
Vittorio De Sica
Bonus but finding out how important these are:
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Fred Fellini
Michaelangelo Antonioni
Bernardo Bertolucci
UNFINISHED Name 3 films and their directors made by neorealist filmmakers that continued making films “influenced” by neorealism, but weren’t neorealist anymore
Yesterday, Today Tomorrow
Death in Venice
Amarcord
Which movie is considered the last neorealism film? Who directed it and which year did it come out?
Journey to Italy
Roberto Rosselini, 54’
Why were white telephone films called escapist?
They distracted the upper class from the plights of the lower class
