ROBERTO ROSSELLINI

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB. 

Original title:  Roma, Citta Aperta

Italy, 1945.  Excelsa Film.  Story and Screenplay by Sergio Amidei, with collaboration by Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, additional material by Alberto Consiglio.  Cinematography by Ubaldo Arata.  Produced by Giuseppe Amato, Ferruccio De Martino, Rod E. Geiger, Roberto Rossellini.  Music by Renzo Rossellini.  Production Design by Rosario Megna.  Film Editing by Eraldo Di Roma.  Academy Awards 1946.  Cannes Film Festival 1946.

Roberto Rossellini’s devastating account of a ravaged, post-war Italy is as heartbreaking today as it ever was. Anna Magnani is terrific as a hard-working mother whose experiences surviving Gestapo-controlled Rome is the focus of the film. The script was co-written by Federico Fellini (yet to direct his first feature), and is a powerful example of neo-realism.