About Rome Open City

Rome, Open City is an iconic war drama film from Italian cinema, released in 1946. Directed by Roberto Rossellini, the plot of this movie is set towards the end of World War II. It narrates the horrifying account of Rome during the Nazi occupation and explores the underlying tension and atrocities faced by its common citizens. It is noteworthy as a landmark film from the Italian Neorealism cinematic movement.

Making / Production

Filmed at Roma while still under German occupation, Rome, Open City was created using a mix of professional actors, non-professional extras, and actual footage from the resistance, reflecting the gritty, stark reality of the time and place.

Actors

• Anna Magnani: She played Pina, a devastated pregnant woman bearing emotional weight and resistance against the occupiers. Magnani's bravura performance encapsulates the spirit of resistance.
• Aldo Fabrizi: He portrayed Don Pietro, a priest involved in aiding the partisan movement. His performance was remarkable and moving, showing both vulnerability and courage.
• Marcello Pagliero: He played Giorgio Manfredi, a communist engineer who is also a high-profile member of the resistance. Pagliero embodied his character with stoic dignity and resistant spirit.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This movie was one of the initiators of the Italian neorealism movement which focused on stories about the working class or the poor, set in the aftermath of World War II.
• Rossellini utilised newsreel and documentary-style footage, adding a sense of realism to the movie.
• To raise funds for the film, one of the main actresses, Anna Magnani, sold her own furniture, while the director, Roberto Rossellini, put his own car and house as collateral.

Awards

Rome, Open City was honored with several international awards. The film won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946. It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay.

Quotes

• "You were a brave man before. Only when one is in love does one become cowardly."
• "War is not like a monastery. It's a place where a man proves himself an honorable man - or a coward!"

Music, Soundtrack

• Rossellini collaborated with composer Renzo Rossellini, who created an emotional score that beautifully complements the film's hardcore realistic treatment.
• The score composed by Renzo is somewhat diegetic, at times played off-camera within a scene, as if performed by the characters themselves.