About Paisan

Paisan is a 1946 Italian neorealist war anthology film directed by Roberto Rossellini. This movie is split into six episodes. They are set in the Italian Campaign during World War II when Nazi Germany was losing against the Allied Forces in Italy. Each episode delves into a different viewpoint, from diverse environments and situations. The stories range from romantic connections between Italians and American soldiers, the struggle of an orphaned street boy in Rome, a night in Naples where a woman thief steals from a drunken American, and so on.

Making / Production

Rossellini's idea for Paisan came from reading news reports of the Allied advance through Italy. He wanted the film to be a picture of the real Italy, seen through the eyes of the common man. Rossellini filmed Paisan with a collaborative and improvisatory spirit, often making up the stories and dialogue day by day while filming on location.

Actors

• Carmela Sazio as Carmela - Carmela does a compelling job portraying a simple Sicilian girl who is forced to guide an American soldier through a landmine-infested terrain. She beautifully blends her innocence with the horrors of war.
• Gar Moore as Joe - Moore plays an American soldier who portrays his character's language barrier and unfamiliarity with the Sicilian terrain with great authenticity.
• Alfonsino Pasca as Pasquale - Pasca gave a memorable performance as the street urchin who forms an unlikely friendship with an American military chaplain.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was shot on location and used non-professional actors, which was quite unusual at the time and became a trademark of Italian neorealist cinema.
• Although the stories are connected through theme and symbolism, they do not share any characters.
• The film is known for its gritty, documentary-like visuals and was a major influence on the French New Wave.

Awards

Paisan was nominated for both an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source.

Quotes

• "We Italians know only too well what war is." - Carmela
• "It's too easy to die for one's country. The hard thing is to live for it." - Monks

Music, Soundtrack

• The music for Paisan was composed by Renzo Rossellini, Roberto Rossellini's brother, who was also a recurring collaborator in his projects.
• The movie does not have a traditional soundtrack; instead, it uses environmental sounds and music sparingly to heighten the realism effect.