OPEN CITY (ROME, CITTA APERTA)

Italy, 1946, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Anna Magnani, Aldo Fabrizi.
Directed by Roberto Rossellini.

Open City is considered a classic. Two months before the Allies came into Rome, the film was evolved by a group of film makers including Federico Fellini as script writer and Roberto Rosselini as director. They wanted to make a film which was a true and realistic record of what Rome endured under Nazi occupation. They wrote the plot on hoarded bits of paper sometimes in invisible ink, even stealing cameras at times from the Germans. They used non-professional actors and actresses as well an Aldo Fabrizzi and the great actress Anna Magnani. The film is most convincing in its atmosphere, its documentary style of filming, its humanity and presentation of what war is like. It still remains a classic war film.

1. The status of this film as an Italian classic? Its being made during the war under very difficult conditions, its representing authentically Roman life during the war, its release at the end of the war and its international impact, its influence in the growing Italian industry after the war? How valuable a classic film?

2. How well did it reflect Italy in 1944-45? The daily life in Rome under occupation, the attitudes of the Roman people, the oppression of the Nazis, the difficulties of day-to-day living even for food, the resistance, the danger in sheltering people, the activities of influential Resistance people? The difficulties of collaboration? The vicious aspects of the Nazis? The risk of death and the suddenness of violent death? The impact on the Italian people at first viewing this film and seeing this mirror of their experience?

3. The authenticity of the black and white photography, the Roman locations, the professional and non-professional actors, the authentic atmosphere - that this did happen this way?

4. Themes of patriotism and the loyalties and resistance of an oppressed and victimized people? The realities of World War II and its harsh effects on people not in the immediate theatre of war? The suffering of war, the regrets of so much injustice, oppression, injury and death?

5. The irony of Rome as an open city? The nature of the German occupation - the presentation of the ordinary soldiers, the officials and their indolent and even vicious way of life, espionage and infiltration? How was this vividly portrayed in the character of Ingrid? The use of drug trafficking, prostitution?

6. The daily atmosphere of search, concealment of Resistance leaders, speed of escape, hiding places, phone calls, terrorist activity? Ordinary men suddenly caught up in the dangers of the moment? The role of women and the likelihood of death even in Roman streets?

7. The portrait of Manfredo and his work for the Resistance, his need for being sheltered, the patriotism and his contribution to the war against the Germans? The bond with Francesco? The war suddenly coming into the life of Francesco and Pina? The capture and the prospect of torture? The possibility always of betrayal?

8. The portrait of Pina and the fact that Anna Magnani portrayed this patriotic woman? The ordinary Roman woman, her participation in the war, her role in daily life, her son, the prospect of marriage? Her helping? The occupation of the street and her reaction to the capture, the sudden impact of her death? Audience identification with this character?

9. The contrast with Marina, the world of the actress, drugs, Ingrid? Women like this being duped and used?

10. The portrait of Don Pietro - as a priest, as a man, his work in the parish, working and playing with the children, his help for the Resistance, carrying the money in the books? The interrogation? The whistle? His being caught? The prospect of his death and his courageous facing of the firing squad? How well did the Church appear in this contemporary film of the occupation?

11. The portrait of the children and their involvement with terrorist activities?

12. What was the portrait of war given in this film, especially war not in the immediate battle field? The human values portrayed in this crisis situation and the authentic experience of World War II?