Entry # 8.1

Rome Open City was probably one of the most popular films of the 1940s. On so many levels this film was able to deliver a powerfull message to its audience. "Rome open City was one of the first major works of Italian neorealist filmmaking and perhaps the single most influential example of the style". According to history this movie was among the first postwar European films to gain a significant audience in the United States. allowing Americans to have a greater appreciation for foreign films. "And politically, it was a work of tremendous bravery". I love war movies or should I say that I find war movies very interesting specially this one. I believe the filmmakers really went above and beyond to reproduce this moment in history and show its audience the reality and the conditions of the war. In fact, "Rossellini began filming in secret, using scavenged film stock without sound equipment, shortly before the city was liberated in June of 1944. Several key members of his creative team had been active in the Italian resistance movement". Rome open city is a movie in form of a documentary, paints the viewers a picture of the lives of different people living in Rome while being occupied by the German Nazis." Anna Magnani is an actress who plays the part of a woman that was helping a member of a resistance group but she ends up falling in love with him. Because she was madly in love, she would risks not only her own life, but also that of her unborn child. "The priest was played by Aldo Fabrizi who aids the anti-Nazi cause and pays dearly for his activism". "Marcello Pagliero is an outspoken communist who runs afoul of the Nazis". And “Harry Feist plays a German officer who has taken an Italian lover, but whose affection for Romans does not run especially deep".

"While Roma, Città Aperta shows flashes of the melodramatic sentimentality that would mark much of Rossellini's later work, it still rings true as a chronicle of a city under siege and as the genesis of a powerful new film style whose influences include such later filmmakers, among many others"

Entry # 7

Ciao Proffesore is a film that reveals some serious social issues in south Italy in a very unsual comedic way. However I feel like this methods works, some times you can raise awareness about a serious issue by making it funny. I found myself very confused at times during the movie because i didn't know if I should laugh or be sad but it definatetly got me thinking about some of the problems they were going through.. Like : extreme poverty, child labor laws were being violated, the kids were not going to school, also the lack of parenting and over population with no jobs.

One thing I noticed also was the kids behaviors. My country is one of the pooriest countries in the world but our parents always wished the best for us. They encouraged us to go to school even though the extra money would be great but they saw our futures. They were very strict on our morals and values. For example all the cursing and the desrespect would not fly in our housing my mother would knock my teeth out. What I am trying to say is even though we were poor my parents had some standards. I know  that the actors in this moving might be exagerating a little but you have to believe that most of it is true and that just makes me sad. I just feel bad for the kids because being poor doesn't mean you can't teach your kids good morals and values, teach them to be respectful and encourage them to want more for themselves. Don't let them chill on the streets everyday and do what ever they want. Children need to be guided and thought respect is not always gained through violence ot to respect your elders you don't need money to do those things. So thats where the professor steps in to the picture. Thats why the kids have to stand up when he walks into the classbecause he is going to show them the way.   I don't i'm just saying!!!!

Entry # 6

Like every thing in life that seems to be perfect and good you can always find in between the lines the negatives and bad stuff. What i mean by that statement is that; through out this semester we have watched a number of italian films. In those films we see Italy as beautiful, romantic and touristics sort of like paradise.Gomorrah is a film directed by Matteo Garrone, based on a book by Roberto Savian. This film revealed to me an Italy that I had not been expose to before. Yes I know about the wars and yes I have heard about the mafia. Even then when I think of the mafia I think dangerous but classy and rich. But this movie showed the corruptions, the slums, the hoods of Italy with lower class gangsthas. I appreciated this movie because I feel like when learning about another culture it is good to see what it's really like too. I can do an entire presentation about Haiti and how it is beautiful and relaxing, just a wonderful place to live. However I could not teach some one about Haitian culture with out telling them about the hunger, the poverty, the corruptions, the gangsthas and the voodoo because it has become part of our culture. The music that we listen to has a lot of pain and suffering. All I am trying to say is, as much as I liked seeing Italy as a postcard I learned a lot as well watching Italy the way Matteo Garrone showed it to me.

Entry # 5

Themes that were developed throughout the movie:
- nobleman caught in the midst of democracy and revolution.
-Prince is forced to choose between compromising his loyalty to tradition and accepting the decline of his      family's influence.

What do you guys think of these themes and can we and to this list. Comment!!! please



 This a link to that really nice ballroom scene
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2464679449/

Entry # 4

I totally agree with Rosalba with her decision to take a break from her household duites. Or should I say her believe that her intentions were right but maybe he actions were a bit immature. Based on the fact that her husband was cheating on her and her kids were pretty independent. I feel like alot  of times prents get so involved in there kids lifes that they put their dreams and their lifes on hold. The Fact is she was not appreciated and loved like most other mothers.  She didnt deserve it so she bounced, it was not fair to her. But after her trip she found true happiness.

Entry # 3

For part of the film we followed Katerina through her adventure in the big city Rome. It was interesting to see how she had changed depending on the type of friends she had arond her. Either her Germano or the other girl I didnt have a feeling that Katherina was ever being herself at any point. She was trying to fit in but at the same time she endedup losing herself in the process. My question is, at the end of the movie did Katherina find a middle point between all her friends? Or was the fact she was returning home at the end of the movie for break means that she had finally found herself again and that she was going back to being her old self?

Entry #2

La Dolce Vita was a very interesting film. The first scene starts off with a helicopter transporting a huge Jesus Statue and another news helicopter that is reporting this event. The news helicopter gets side track when they spot a group of women sun bathing on the roof top of an apartment. At first I was very confused I thought this scene was kind of hypocritical " A Jesus statue then a roof top full of women in bikinies weird!!!" However in the end I guess it finally made since. The message they were trying to portray was Jesus with his hands out extending his grace and blessing over the slums of rome "very cool". Already you can start identifying religious themes and motifs that are going to be presented throughtout the film.  This movie explain the life of Marcello a journalist living in Rome in the late 1950's searching for a more meaningful and happier way of life. Marcello never actually finds true happiness and fufillment. What is true happiness and fufillment? What was Marcello really looking for? Some questions i would like to discuss. But on a personal note will I ever find true happiness? Or is fufillment be comfortable and acceptable with what you have and continue to live life day by day. Thats how I see it and  I could be very happy that way.