Review of Open City (2008) by Andrew C — 26 May 2008
One of the finest examples of Italian neo-realism. Shot in the streets of Rome using mainly non actors in the weeks immediately after the allied liberation the film deals with the horrors of the war in an unflinching, documentary realist approach. We follow members of the resistance as they try to subvert the nazi occupation while seeing the day to day struggles of the people of Rome trying to get by during these harsh times.
As the agitators get captured because of someone talking there is a great scene between one of the Nazi officers and the torturing of one of the resitance fighters. They wonder why the all never talk. One of the germans says something along the lines of 'we Germans fail to understand that people want to be free'. So true.
The final scene with the priest getting killed is pretty brutal as well although there is an element of hope involved as the children whistle the resistance song as they look on from behind the fence.
An unflinching, masterful representation of life during the War which ushered in the hugely influential italian neorealist movement.
This review of Open City (2008) was written by Andrew C on 26 May 2008.
Open City has generally received positive reviews.
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