Walken as US Officer Rod Geiger

Plot:
In 1945, filmmaker Roberto Rossellini released the daring Rome, Open City, a film that sharply criticized the Nazis and became a cornerstone of the Italian Neorealist movement. This Italian drama tells the fascinating true story of the film's genesis. Originally Rossellini and his screenwriter wanted the film to chronicle and comment upon the Nazi occupation of Rome. After finding a suitable cast they began making the film and then showed a few rushes to outspoken producer Pepino Amato who was so upset by the radical message that he walked out, taking his financial backing with him. Fortunately, the director manages to find backing from an enigmatic countess. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
www.film.tv.it/photogallery.php?film=1318
 

A faithful recreation of the making of Roberto Rossellini's Open City, the film which initiated the neorealist movement in Italian film. Open City starts with Rossellini and screenwriter Sergio Amidei (the marvelous Giancarlo Giannini) deciding to make a film about Rome during the German occupation. The search for actors is one of the delightful elements of the movie. Aldo Fabrizi, who plays the humanist priest, is a famous vaudeville comedian; Anna Magnani is a renowned cabaret actress and singer; Amidei's lover is recruited to play the treacherous Marina; other roles are played by amateurs bearing a physical resemblance to Rossellini's vision of the characters. The young Federico Fellini is given the hard task of persuading the actors to work for practically nothing. The producer abandons the project midway once he gets to see the dailies.

The veteran filmmaker Carlo Lizzani makes a wonderful recreation of the artistic fervor surrounding the preparation, shooting and distribution of the Italian classic. The differences in the visions of the screenwriter and the director are the philosophical center of the film. Amidei favors a more individualistic and intimate vision, while Rossellini leans toward a more domestic and universal view. The clashes between the two creators illustrate their fiery artistic integrity.

A loving and realistic recreation of the period, with an excellent cast who physically resemble their real counterparts. The screenplay transmits the exciting and wondrous process of creation in film. A handsome tribute to the great film by Rossellini.

*www.mymovies.it/dizionario/recensione.asp?id=4952
*www.archivio.raiuno.rai.it/schede/9001/900117.htm
*www.tempimoderni.com/1996/celluloi.htm
*www.cinematografo.it/bancadati/
*http://magazine.libero.it/cinema/bd/schedafilm.php?sch=30526

thanks, Cecelia for the pic!

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