Rome, Open City

Every movement has its beginning, and Italian neo-realism is no different. Directed by Roberto Rossellini, Rome, Open City is widely considered the first film in the Italian neo-realism movement. The film paints a dire picture of how ordinary Italians suffered during the Nazi occupation of Rome during World War II.

The film begins with Giorgio Manfredi, a leader of an Italian resistance group, on the run from the Gestapo in Rome. He takes refuge with his friend Francesco in his apartment. With the help of Don Pietro, a Catholic priest, Giorgio plots to escape Rome in order to continue his subversive activities against the Germans.

During his time, Rossellini bucked a number of filmmaking conventions by filming in real locations as opposed to using a fabricated set. Rome, Open City portrays real-life locations throughout the city of Rome, including scenes which take place in the street. According to a documentary that was included on the DVD of the film, shooting film in the street was viewed as “beneath” many filmmakers of the day.

Rome, Open City takes a number of twists and turns as Giorgio's escape unfolds. The film serves as a realistic and sometimes harsh depiction of life under Nazi rule, as the strength and solidarity that exists among families and friends is pitted against the cruel and overwhelming force of the German secret police. Loyalty and friendship are elevated to the highest importance during a time when torture and execution are the penalty for helping enemies of the state.

The characters in this film come across as real people. Pina, Francesco's fiancée, is a mother who has a child from a previous marriage. Her relationship with Francesco is filled with hope for the future and yet carries the weight of living in the midst of a war under an oppressive regime. This serves as a microcosm of the experience of the Italian people during World War II.

Gritty and depressing, Rome, Open City is a film that remains dramatic and (at times) suspenseful in spite of the technological limitations of 1940s cinema. It's incredible when you realize this movie was released in 1945, which was literally right after Italy was liberated by Allied forces. Created in the wake of a devastating war, the movie carries the sense of foreboding that must have permeated society at the time. Rossellini went on to make two other films—Paisà and Germany, Year Zero—in what became known as his “War Trilogy.” Rome, Open City, however, will always be recognized as the first Italian neo-realist film, one that inspired an entire movement within Italian cinema.