Italian Neorealism

3 units

This course explores the visual language of one of the most influential film movements of the twentieth century. We will concentrate on the origins of neorealism in Italian post-war cinema and history, and focus on the works of film-makers such as Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica and Luchino Visconti. We will also consider the longer-term influence of the movement both in Italy and elsewhere. Throughout this course, we will reflect on the possibilities of mimesis in cinema, on the social and political engagement of neorealist film, and on the factors that caused its decline.