Rome, Open City

The story of how this movie was made is just as engrossing as the movie itself. Rossellini wrote it (with Fellini!) during the Nazi occupation of Rome. He started filming it before the occupation was even over in 1944 using scavenged film stock. Several of the filmmakers were active in the resistance.

This film set the pace for the post-war Italian neorealist films and it came out before the war in Europe was even over! The film's influence can not be overstated.

But it is also entertaining as hell. The film tells the story of a number of Romans active in the resistance. It often feels like a documentary but it isn't. It is a landmark of cinema is what it is. I'm glad that I have finally seen it.

Directed by Roberto Rossellini
1945
DVD