Italian Neorealism Masterpieces
A refined collection of the most influential films from the Italian Neorealist movement.
-
1
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
A cornerstone of Italian neorealism depicting a father and son searching for a stolen bicycle in post-war Rome.
-
2
Rome, Open City (1945)
A gripping neorealist depiction of resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Rome.
-
3
La Terra Trema (1948)
An epic and visually stunning depiction of Sicilian fishermen's failed attempt to escape exploitation by wholesalers.
-
4
Mamma Roma (1962)
A tragic story of a former prostitute trying to start a new life for her son in the Roman suburbs.
-
5
Umberto D. (1952)
A heartbreaking study of an elderly pensioner struggling to maintain his dignity and survive with his dog in a cold city.
-
6
Il Grido (1957)
A bridge between neorealism and existential cinema, following a man's aimless journey.
-
7
Bellissima (1951)
A sharp satire of the film industry featuring Anna Magnani as a mother obsessed with making her daughter a star.
-
8
Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)
A brilliant parody of heist films that used neorealist settings to birth the 'Commedia all'italiana' genre.
-
9
Paisan (1946)
A powerful six-episode chronicle following the Allied liberation of Italy from south to north.
-
10
Ossessione (1943)
Often cited as the first neorealist film, this dark tale of passion and murder is based on The Postman Always Rings Twice.
-
11
Germany, Year Zero (1948)
A bleak and tragic look at the moral and physical ruins of post-war Berlin through the eyes of a young boy.
-
12
The Children Are Watching Us (1944)
A sensitive and devastating portrayal of a family's disintegration as seen through the eyes of a four-year-old boy.
-
13
Bitter Rice (1949)
A melodramatic blend of social realism and noir set among the seasonal workers in the rice fields of the Po Valley.
-
14
Miracle in Milan (1951)
A unique neorealist fable blending social commentary with fantasy as a group of squatters fights for their shantytown.
-
15
The Bandit (1946)
A grim look at a returning POW who finds his family destroyed and turns to a life of crime in a broken society.
-
16
Shoeshine (1946)
A tragic story of two young boys whose friendship is destroyed after they are sent to a juvenile detention center.
-
17
Journey to Italy (1954)
A landmark film that moved neorealism toward a psychological exploration of a failing marriage.
-
18
Rome 11:00 (1952)
Based on a true event where a staircase collapsed under the weight of hundreds of women waiting for a job interview.
-
19
Europa '51 (1952)
The story of a wealthy socialite who, after a personal tragedy, devotes her life to the poor.
-
20
Under the Sun of Rome (1948)
A vibrant example of pink neorealism focusing on the everyday lives and escapades of youth in post-war Rome.
-
21
The Path of Hope (1950)
A dramatic journey of Sicilian miners traveling across Italy in hopes of finding work in France.
-
22
Without Pity (1948)
A bold exploration of a tragic romance between an African-American soldier and an Italian girl in post-war Livorno.
-
23
To Live in Peace (1947)
A humanistic tale set in a mountain village where an Italian farmer hides American soldiers during the war.
-
24
The Gold of Naples (1954)
An affectionate and episodic tribute to the resilience and spirit of the people of Naples.
-
25
Woman of Rome (1954)
An depiction of the life of a young woman forced into prostitution during the fascist era.
-
26
The Roof (1956)
A late neorealist work about a young couple trying to build a one-room house in a single night.
-
27
The Walls of Malapaga (1949)
A collaboration depicting a fugitive who finds brief solace and love in the ruins of Genoa.
-
28
Stromboli (1950)
A displacement drama about a Lithuanian woman who escape a DP camp, only to find herself trapped on a volcanic island.
-
29
Anna (1951)
A drama about a woman who becomes a nun to escape a complicated past.
-
30
Love in the City (1953)
An experimental anthology using real people to explore urban life and romance in Rome.