Rising from the devastation of World War II, a handful of bold Italian filmmakers in the 1940s transformed the world of cinema with movies that were both intimate and socially critical. These filmmakers—Visconti, Rossellini, De Sica—were followed by other film artists—Antonioni, Fellini, Monicelli, Germi, Petri, Pasolini—who in the 1950s and 1960s brought their inspired personal visions to movies that earned critical admiration and financial success around the world. This talk will describe this creative period of Italian cinema history by focusing on twenty classic films, starting with the miracles of post-war neo-realism (films made with non-professional actors in real locations on shoestring budgets) and progressing to hugely popular big-budget features that were both glamorous and challenging—and often hilarious in their satirical insights into human behavior. To register for the talk and receive a Zoom link, contact Barbara Gugluizza at bgugluizza@concordma.gov. All the films to be discussed will be available on DVD or streaming. All attendees will receive a pdf summary of the selected films (plus extra added attractions) for future reference.
