Rome, Open City

 




Interesting video here on Italian neorealism and its historical context. 



I can't say that I am a big fan of Italian Neorealism. 

Fundamentally, it seems to be more about showing the dire situation of the Italian working classes than about plot or character. It has a message, and that message is quite uncompromising; life is hard, the bad guys win and there is no hope. 

It is this hopelessness that makes Rome; Open City such a difficult watch. There are some out-of-place moments of humour, especially involving the priest, but the story just gets more and more bleak, and the ending couldn't be darker. 

Look, the film seems to be saying, there is no hope. It will not all work out, it is not going to be alright. 

The irony is that, in reality, the Germans were finally defeated and were thrown out of Italy. Yet to watch this film, you would never think that. 


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