Benito Mussolini Neorealism Essay

Following the downfall of Benito Mussolini’s fascist rule and the devastation of the Second World War, the nation of Italy saw the origination of a cinematic movement known as neorealism. Regarded as “one of the most innovative and important movements” in Italy’s collection of art (Schiavo 107), neorealism began in 1945 and continued through 1952, with Italian film directors creating an assortment of material culture that depicted a shift in the nation’s identity (Ruberto 3). Through the utilization of language, nonprofessional actors, and stories about the working class, neorealist films reflect the transformation of Italian culture in the aftermath of sociopolitical turmoil. Comparably, between 1937 and 1946, the American film industry
After the demise of fascist rule, filmmakers gained moderate freedom from censorship and they began to take liberties regarding linguistic expression in art. In addition to this, in the aftermath of World War II, Italian culture resolved to express class struggles through film, offering an unrestrained portrayal of “the experience of war, poverty, and suffering” (Wagstaff 409). A powerful example of linguistic liberty in Italian neorealist film is demonstrated in Roberto Rossellini’s Paisà, which was released in 1946. A series of six episodes, the film portrays the lives of Americans in Italy and their association with the Italians during World War II. An overarching theme of the film is communication barriers, with Paisà featuring the use of many different dialects. The use of linguistic diversity in the film is a reflection of realistic cultural distress (Schiavo 108). For example, in the first episode of the film, just one of the Americans speaks Italian, representing the linguistic barriers that the American soldiers were faced with during the war. Also, some scenes in the film depict differences in the dialects of Italians from different regions that hinder their ability to communicate