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Rome, Open City

Original title: Roma città aperta
  • 19451945
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
26K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Roma città aperta (1945)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:30
1 Video
48 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
  • War

During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.

IMDb RATING
8.0/10
26K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roberto Rossellini
  • Writers
    • Sergio Amidei(screenplay)
    • Federico Fellini(collaboration on screenplay)
    • Roberto Rossellini(collaboration on screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anna Magnani
    • Aldo Fabrizi
    • Marcello Pagliero
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roberto Rossellini
  • Writers
    • Sergio Amidei(screenplay)
    • Federico Fellini(collaboration on screenplay)
    • Roberto Rossellini(collaboration on screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anna Magnani
    • Aldo Fabrizi
    • Marcello Pagliero
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 7 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:30
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos48

    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Aldo Fabrizi in Roma città aperta (1945)
    1 sheet 29 x 43
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Maria Michi in Roma città aperta (1945)
    Harry Feist and Giovanna Galletti in Roma città aperta (1945)
    Roma città aperta (1945)
    Aldo Fabrizi and Eduardo Passarelli in Roma città aperta (1945)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anna Magnani
    Anna Magnani
    • Pinaas Pina
    Aldo Fabrizi
    Aldo Fabrizi
    • Don Pietro Pellegrinias Don Pietro Pellegrini
    Marcello Pagliero
    • Giorgio Manfredi aka Luigi Ferrarisas Giorgio Manfredi aka Luigi Ferraris
    Vito Annichiarico
    • Piccolo Marcelloas Piccolo Marcello
    Nando Bruno
    • Agostino the Sextonas Agostino the Sexton
    Harry Feist
    • Major Bergmannas Major Bergmann
    Giovanna Galletti
    Giovanna Galletti
    • Ingridas Ingrid
    Francesco Grandjacquet
    • Francescoas Francesco
    Eduardo Passarelli
    • Neighborhood Police Sergeantas Neighborhood Police Sergeant
    • (as Passarelli)
    Maria Michi
    Maria Michi
    • Marina Marias Marina Mari
    Carla Rovere
    • Laurettaas Lauretta
    Carlo Sindici
    • Police Commissioneras Police Commissioner
    Joop van Hulzen
    • Captain Hartmannas Captain Hartmann
    • (as Van Hulzen)
    Ákos Tolnay
    • Austrian Deserteras Austrian Deserter
    • (as A. Tolnay)
    Caterina Di Furia
    • Woman in Street Sceneas Woman in Street Scene
    • (uncredited)
    Laura Clara Giudice
    • Bit Partas Bit Part
    • (uncredited)
    Turi Pandolfini
    • Grandfatheras Grandfather
    • (uncredited)
    Amalia Pellegrini
    • Nanninaas Nannina
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roberto Rossellini
    • Writers
      • Sergio Amidei(screenplay) (story)
      • Federico Fellini(collaboration on screenplay)
      • Roberto Rossellini(collaboration on screenplay) (additional material)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The location: Nazi occupied-Rome. As Rome is classified an open city, most Romans can wander the streets without fear of the city being bombed or them being killed in the process. But life for Romans is still difficult with the Nazi occupation as there is a curfew, basic foods are rationed, and the Nazis are still searching for those working for the resistance and will go to any length to quash those in the resistance and anyone providing them with assistance. War-worn widowed mother Pina is about to get married to her next-door neighbor Francesco. Despite Pina being pregnant and Francesco being an atheist, they'll be married by Catholic priest Don Pietro Pelligrini. The day before the wedding, Francesco's friend Giorgio Manfredi, whom Pina has never met, comes looking for Francesco as he, working for the resistance, needs a place to hide out. For his latest mission, Giorgio also requests the assistance of Don Pietro, who is more than willing as he sees such work as being in the name of God. Don Pietro's position also provides him with access to where others cannot go. Giorgio's girlfriend, cabaret performer Marina, doesn't even know where Giorgio is in hiding. Both Pina and Marina take measures to improve their lives under this difficult situation, which might have tragic consequences. —Huggo
    • world war two in italy
    • year 1944
    • blowtorch
    • catholic priest
    • burned with blowtorch
    • 205 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Rossellini's Great Film of Our Time
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Roberto Rossellini used real German POWs as extras for added realistic effect.
    • Goofs
      When Marina opens the wardrobe door to put something into the wardrobe. In the next shot, all of a sudden, a garment is hanging on the door that was not there before.
    • Quotes

      Don Pietro: It's not hard to die well. The hard thing is to live well.

    • Connections
      Edited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Mallinata Fiorentina
      Composed by Giovanni D'Anzi

      Lyrics by Michele Galdieri (as Galdieri)

      (1941)

    User reviews87

    Review
    Top review
    A positive review that explains the director's motives.
    Open City

    The Neo-Realistic film Open City relives the tragic suffering of Italy and the people's resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. The story depicts how a liberation group tries to conceal its leader, Giorgio Manfredi. The role each plays in the resistance reveals an intimate portrayal of their lives. Whether for religion, love, rebellion, greed, or nationalism these rebels attempt to make sense of war and cope with their problems. The omniscient point of view provides an understanding of each character's motivation to survive their dreadful situation. The director, Rossellini, made Open City an attempt to "restore the nationalism from the chaos" left by the war. In order to restore the nationalism for his audience, Rossellini reconciled the characters' differences through their common motivation for better lives.

    Brecht said, in referring to Neo-Realism, "it doesn't show real things, its shows how things really are." I feel that despite the low budget and quality of stock, Rossellini made an excellent film full of real life images. The strength of the screenplay, through its poignant representation of the wartime struggle, made Open City an outstanding film. Rossellini properly explained the human condition in a way that Italians and all viewers could empathize. However, I am not convinced the film's message came across correctly, as a nationalistic film. In the documentary, Neo-Realism, a gentleman thought it depicted Italians poorly. This contradicts the entire message of the film.

    Content

    The screenplay by Sergio Amidei and Federico Fellini powerfully captures the importance of the characters' personalities set in this wartime struggle for survival. The motivation of Pina and Francesco is love. They enjoy a love for their country, their son, and their lives. Especially poignant was the scene in which they sat in the stairwell and remembered the good times and hoped for better. Pina's sister, Marina is motivated by greed. She has had many lovers and even sold her friends for her materialistic needs. She finally sees the effect of her horrible deeds; but then it is too late when Manfredi is dead. Giorgio Manfredi is motivated by his nationalism for Italy and loyalty to the liberation movement. His patriotism and loyalty to friends are idealized in the imprisonment and a torture scene where he refuses to talk and is at peace with his fate as a martyr. Don Pietro Pellegrini is motivated by faith. Don Pietro believes that God's Will has brought the war. He believes prayer and forgiveness are the answers to suffering. Nevertheless he is also a practical man. As a forger he shows he can contribute more than prayer to the struggle. His compromise as a religious figure suggests that there are no black and white lines separating roles and ideals of the independence movement.

    Marcello, Pina's son, is motivated by rebellion and group behavior. Marcello, although young and immature, is an excellent representation of the citizens who organized and rebelled against the Nazis. The point is made that even at his age he could play a role in the war. Marcello therefore symbolizes the significance of the most insignificant person and the struggle of all Rome. Also, as a youthful figure he also symbolizes the future of Rome and Italy. In the final scene he and his friend console each other as they march back to the city. This suggests that Italians must comfort each other and rebuild after the war.

    Form

    The film's low budget is evident through its various technical flaws. The film stock was a poor quality and originated from different reels. In splitting the stock there lacks a consistent flow to the film. There are points in the film where sound is completely eliminated and others where camera angles are suddenly adjusted, as if they were editing over a previous scene (editor-Eraldo Da Roma). A lack of continuity is seen in the scene where a car is filmed approaching a building. When the car stops, the film seems make a quick edit and then switches to a new camera angle as people leave the car. Another flaw is the poor quality of lighting in the film. In an effort to put certain emphasis on a person or object, light floods some areas. This makes it impossible to view it without difficulty. Additionally too much light is given when a "medium shot" is given to characters as they sit giving a monologue. Ingrid, the Nazi's girlfriend, often receives too much light when she speaks. Perhaps it is her pale skin or the cinematographer's desire to emphasize the face resulting in overexposure (cinematographer-Ubaldo Arata). This distracts from the movement and speech of the actress. Finally, the colors of the apartment walls are too bright. As characters move throughout the hallways and stairways, the bright light background reduces their depth and texture.
    helpful•22
    16
    • john-268
    • Feb 3, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1945 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • German
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Roma, ciudad abierta
    • Filming locations
      • Via Casilina, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Excelsa Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,712
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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