Watch Roma città aperta (1945)

Watch Roma città aperta (1945)

Italian film, Drama, Thriller, War
US title: Rome, Open City

Cannes Film Festival, 1946- Winner: Grand Prix
Berlin International Film Festival, 1990- Official Selection
Academy Awards, 1947- Nominee: Best Writing, Screenplay
Toronto International Film Festival, 2005 & 2013- Official Selection
São Paulo International Film Festival, 2005- Official Selection
National Board of Review, 1946- Winner: Best Foreign Film,Winner: Top Ten Films, Winner: Best Actress

Roberto Rossellini's 1945 film, "Roma città aperta" (Rome, Open City), stands as a monumental work in the history of cinema. It is not merely a film; it is a document of a specific time and place, a raw and powerful chronicle of the final days of the Nazi occupation of Rome. Shot on the streets of a city still scarred by war, with a mix of professional actors and non-professional locals, the film became the foundational text of Italian neorealism—a movement that would profoundly influence filmmaking worldwide. More on Wikipedia or Mubi.

The film's genesis is as remarkable as its final product. With the war still raging, Rossellini and his collaborators, including Federico Fellini and Sergio Amidei, worked with limited resources, using scraps of film stock and improvising on location. This "on-the-fly" production style, born out of necessity, contributed to the film's authenticity and sense of urgency. The camera, often handheld, feels like a direct witness to the events unfolding, capturing the grime, the fear, and the resilience of the Roman people.

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The plot, though a work of fiction, is deeply rooted in real-life events. It follows a diverse group of Romans—a communist resistance leader, a pregnant woman, a Catholic priest, and a young boy—as they navigate the perilous landscape of collaboration and resistance. The film's power lies in its refusal to simplify moral choices. It portrays both the heroic acts of defiance and the everyday compromises forced upon ordinary people. The characters are not one-dimensional heroes or villains; they are complex human beings struggling to survive in a world turned upside down.

Anna Magnani, in her iconic role as the pregnant Pina, delivers a performance of searing authenticity. Her character's tragic death, shot down in the street as she runs after her captured fiancé, is one of the most famous and gut-wrenching scenes in film history. This moment, more than any other, encapsulates the brutal reality of the occupation. It is a death that is both personal and symbolic—the violent extinguishing of hope and innocence.

"Roma città aperta" was a commercial and critical success, both in Italy and internationally. It resonated with audiences who were tired of escapist fantasies and craved stories that reflected the harsh truths of their lives. For many, the film was a cathartic experience, a way of processing the trauma of the war. Its raw emotional power and unflinching gaze on suffering and injustice struck a chord with a generation seeking to understand how such atrocities could have happened.

Beyond its immediate impact, the film's legacy is immense. It established the principles of Italian neorealism: the use of non-professional actors, location shooting, and a focus on the lives of ordinary people. Directors like Vittorio De Sica ("Bicycle Thieves") and Luchino Visconti ("La Terra Trema") would build upon this foundation, creating a cinematic movement that sought to capture the "reality" of post-war Italy.

Today, "Roma città aperta" remains a vital and relevant film. It is a testament to the power of cinema to bear witness to history and to capture the enduring spirit of humanity in the face of immense adversity. It is a stark reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the capacity for courage, compassion, and resistance. Roberto Rossellini's masterpiece is not just a film about the past; it is a timeless and universal story about the human condition. 

What is good about film?

• A Multisensory Experience: Film is a dynamic art form that combines various elements to create a total experience. It fuses visual imagery (cinematography, set design, special effects), sound (dialogue, sound effects, music), and narrative to create a powerful and immersive world for the viewer. This combination allows for a level of sensory engagement that is difficult to achieve in other mediums.

• Emotional Resonance and Empathy: Through the power of the close-up, the musical score, and the carefully crafted scene, films can evoke strong emotions and build empathy. They can place us in the shoes of a character and allow us to experience their joys, sorrows, fears, and triumphs. This ability to connect on a deeply human level is one of film's greatest strengths.

• Powerful Storytelling: Film has a unique way of manipulating time and space to tell a story. Through editing, a filmmaker can compress years into a few minutes or draw out a single moment for maximum dramatic effect. The visual nature of film can also convey complex ideas and emotions without a single word of dialogue, as seen in silent films or meticulously choreographed sequences.

• Cultural and Social Commentary: Films often serve as a mirror to society, reflecting and commenting on the social, political, and cultural issues of their time. From neorealist films like "Roma città aperta" that documented post-war life to contemporary blockbusters that grapple with themes of identity and technology, cinema provides a platform for critical discourse and can shape public opinion.

• Collaboration and Innovation: Filmmaking is a collaborative art form, bringing together a diverse group of artists and technicians—from writers and directors to cinematographers, editors, and actors. This collective process fosters a unique environment for creativity and innovation, leading to constant advancements in technology and new forms of storytelling.

What is not so good about film?

• Commercial Pressures: A major criticism of cinema, particularly Hollywood, is its deep entanglement with commerce. The high cost of production and the need to recoup investment can lead to a focus on making commercially viable films over artistically challenging ones. This can result in formulaic plots, excessive use of CGI, and a proliferation of sequels and remakes that prioritize brand recognition over originality.

• Limited Audience Engagement: Unlike interactive mediums like video games or even theater, which can have a direct relationship with the audience, film is a one-way experience. The viewer is a passive observer, and the narrative is fixed. While this allows for a controlled artistic vision, it can limit the audience's ability to engage with the story or characters in a more personal way.

• Simplified Characters and Narratives: Due to the constraints of a typical 90-120 minute runtime, many films can struggle to develop complex, multi-layered characters and narratives. This can lead to one-dimensional heroes and villains and plots that rely on clichés or contrivances to move the story forward.

• The "Mass Marketing of Triviality": Some critics argue that the very nature of popular cinema, as a mass-produced and widely distributed medium, debases its potential for true artistic achievement. They see it as a "factory-made" product that caters to the lowest common denominator, prioritizing spectacle and entertainment over intellectual or emotional depth.

• The Challenge of Depicting Reality: While films can be incredibly realistic, some philosophical critiques argue that cinema's nature as a "recording device" limits its ability to fully capture the complexity of human experience. It is a re-creation, not a direct reflection, and the act of framing, editing, and directing can inherently distort the reality it purports to show.
  Full Film (English subtitles)