Sotto il sole di Roma (1948)

The film starts with the narrator stating that "this is a true story." Ciro, a young man living in Rome during WWII... See full synopsis »

Director:

Renato Castellani

Writers:

Sergio Amidei, Renato Castellani,

Stars:

Oscar Blando, Liliana Mancini, Francesco Golisano

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oscar Blando	...	Ciro
Liliana Mancini	...	Iris
Francesco Golisano	...	Geppa
Ennio Fabeni	...	Bruno
Alfredo Locatelli	...	Nerone
Gaetano Chiurazzi	...	Bellicapelli
Anselmo Di Biagio	...	Dottorino
Ferruccio Tozzi	...	Ciro's Father
Maria Tozzi	...	Ciro's Mother
Giuseppina Fava	...	Janitor
Raffaele Caporilli	...	'Mbriaschini
Ilario Malaschini	...	Pirate
Omero Paoloni	...	Coccolone
Gisella Monaldi	...	Tosca
Alberto Sordi	...	Fernando

Storyline

The film starts with the narrator stating that "this is a true story." Ciro, a young man living in Rome during WWII... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

post war italy | neorealism | part of trilogy | rome italy | italy

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Taglines:

First foreign film released through UNITED ARTISTS

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

2 October 1948 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Under the Sun of Rome

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universalcine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 82 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Bellissima (1952)

User Reviews

Young Roman skirts crime while growing into manhood during World War 2

"Sotto il sole di Roma" is a terrific Italian neo-realist film.

Neo-realist films differ radically from all Hollywood films. They feature stories of real down to earth people, often beset with problems of poverty and war, and struggling with basic human problems. These movies touch the viewers deeply. As my wife long ago told me "Italian movies make you cry." Also, being Italian, they capture the unique cultural aspects of Italians, their warmth, volatility, friendships, sex appetites, without idealizing them at all, because we also see their personal drives, temptations, tempers, angers, sometimes crimes, and their negative sides. This is not a phony cinema. The films mix professional and non-professional actors, with a great deal of filming being on the streets and in the countryside. The films possess the element of surprise, because real people who are not stereotypes are unpredictable. The pictures are fresh.

The story focuses on Ciro, who lives with his father, a night watchman, and his hard-working mother. In a nearby apartment lives Iris, who becomes Ciro's love interest. But there is much drama surrounding this because he dallies with a married woman and some others. As the story opens, Ciro is unsettled, immature, and fun-loving. He's self-centered and leading the carefree life of a boy of 16 or so who doesn't work and is too young to be drafted into the army.

We follow a number of his his youthful escapades and misadventures, and they are basically comical as well as unforgettable. But as the war grows closer to Rome and the Germans enter Rome, and as shortages appear, and as he starts flirting with crime in order to get money, the comedy shifts into a bittersweet vein and the film becomes more serious. As Iris and Ciro have their differences and jealousy enters, while still being in love (a strong mutual attraction), the story becomes more serious too.

By the end, Ciro has come of age. The very last few scenes and lines pack a tremendous punch. Ciro has narrated during the story and his last few lines close the circle of this coming to maturity story, not simply sexual maturity, but the maturity of conscience, feeling and responsibility.

The script and direction are so good that the Hollywood thrillers and action movies of today seem, by and large, utterly phony, empty-headed, meaningless and superficial. These are entertaining, yes, for what they are, but not changing the viewer or making a lasting impression.