The Italian Cinema Vigorous, diverse, and inventive, the Italian cinema has produced throughout its history a body of memorable films that have left an indelible imprint on international culture. This course will present an historical overview, beginning with the post-World War II movement known as neo-realism, characterized by stories (like Bicycle Thieves and Open City) set among the poor and working class, filmed in long takes on location, frequently using amateur actors for secondary and sometimes primary roles. We will then turn to the 1950s and 60s, when economic, social, and technological conditions changed significantly, and important filmmakers like Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni emerged to create new forms of cinematic expression that explored the alienation and neuroses of modern life. Italian comedy will be explored as well, beginning with the popular style known as La commedia all ‘italiana which evolved into a new form in recent decades with the films of Nanni Moretti and Roberto Benigni.
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