Presentation Notes/Script

This presentation will help teach you a little bit about Italian Neo Realism

Contents:
We will begin with the years prior to Neo Realism in Italy, from the start of Mussolinis Fascist regime to the war then finally onto the Neo Realism.
When we finally get to neo realism I will show some of the facts about neo realism and it's history
Then we will get onto the three neo-realist films I've analysed from the time of neo realism.

Context slide: Pre Neo Realism
Italy has always been good at entertainment right from the time of Rome with the Colosseum and gladiatorial battles.
However with men fighting to the death shamed upon in modern times and cinema coming into the spotlight Italy switched to film making.
Originally all was well with the industry
From the early 20th century Italian films were more usually the sophisticated and melodramatic and historical epic type of films
But times change, and come the 1920s the fascists rise in Italy
But this originally wasn't so bad for the industry as the regime was only remotely involved with the film making industry under the assumption it was best controlled by private interests.
But this style of running the industry wasn't sustainable.
With competition rising in the international market, Italy fell behind, movies becoming unprofitable and lacking on equipment and training.
Regime went with documentary style film in order to help them maintain and build their power in Italy by promoting fascism and it's benefits
Specifically emphasized the progress of Italys industry and economic progress, and more importantly the main aim was to seal Mussolinis position of power by showing him as powerful and successful
Overtime more film organisations were created in order to help control the film industry and promote the regime
Obviously most movies created were censored to make sure nothing bad was said about the regime, so films tended to avoid the hidden messages and go with simple genres like comedies or dramas, and these specifically portrayed the upper class lifestyles in Italy and showed something that people desire
During Wartime the film industry doesn't really make many films, maybe the odd one or two but for all intents and purposes it basically stopped.
To make things better the Italian economy was becoming increasingly worse with the deteriorating war situation
And in 1943 Mussollini was executed











During mussolinis regime the Italian media was heavily censored
Couldn't talk about the negatives of life in Italy such as the impoverished conditions or poor economy.
Couldn't make anything political that criticised the fascism or promoted other ideals or in away invoked the people to want a different form of government.
Documentaries were preferred by the regime and they established the L'Unione Cinematografica Educativa or (LUCE)