See how Neorealism influences today's Italian filmmakers
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Liri River waterfall |
In his films, De Sica’s characters search for hope and
beauty among desolation. Perhaps he drew from his own experience growing up in
such a beautiful place, which includes Sora’s neighboring commune, Isola del
Liri, a charming island, which houses two famous waterfalls; visual muses for
artists throughout time. De Sica grew up with nothing among this beautiful
landscape in which he prospered as an artist, and adapted that experience and message
for his neorealist films.
De Sica began his film career in 1917 with a part in Alfredo
De Antoni’s silent adventure film, “Il processo Clémenceau” (The Clemenceau
Affair). Shortly thereafter, he began a
successful stint in theater, in which his dashing looks made him a local stage
idol. De Sica enjoyed both stage and screen, appearing in both art forms
throughout the 1920’s. The next decade would go on to really launch his career.
In 1932, he made his talkie film debut in “La Vecchia Signora” and at the
same time, he and his first wife, Giuditta Rissone founded their own theater
company along with fellow actor and playwright, Sergio Tofano. The company
prospered, specializing in comedies, but also featured the work of big-name
directors like Luchino Visconti. Meanwhile, his film career was flourishing and
he was making a name for himself as a respected comedy actor.
De Sica is responsible for making Italian Cinema a front
runner at the Academy Awards. During his golden years, six of De Sica’s films were
praised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The first of those was his 1946 neorealist film, Sciuscià
(Shoeshine) in which he stepped behind the camera to direct. The film played a
pivotal role in the international acclaim that Italian cinema would go to
achieve. "Sciuscià" (see video clip) is the story of two friends, Giuseppe and Pasquale who
test-ride horses and dream of owning one themselves. They work on the streets
of Rome as shoeshine boys in the depressed economy of Post-War Italy. The boys
become the scapegoats of a complex theft and their lives are destroyed. The
story is a heartbreaking testament to the financial distress Italians faced in
the wake of World War II. The film received an Honorary Award at the Oscars and
was the inspiration behind the category of the award for Best Foreign Film as
it was the first foreign film to be acknowledged by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.
Two years later, De Sica made Ladri di biciclette" (The
Bicycle Thieves). "The film is truly one of the masterpieces of Italian cinema,
and of cinema as a whole. "Ladri di
biciclette" is the story of a Roman family struggling to survive on the streets
of Rome, again in the wake of World War II. Antonio Ricci, played by Lamberto Maggiorani is desperately searching to
support his family of four. When he is offered a position posting
advertisements around the city, he tells his wife that he has to decline
because he needs a bike and obviously cannot afford to buy one. She is so happy
that he has finally been offered a job, she pawns all her bed sheets and humble
valuables to raise the money for the bike. The two are so ecstatic; they enjoy a beautiful victory ride home, her
on the handlebars rejoicing their new life. Then on the first day of work,
Antonio’s bike is stolen. What follows is a portrait of desperation and the
lengths a father and young son will go to find justice. The film also won an
Honorary Award at the Oscar’s and to this day, is considered one of the classic
films of all-time.
"Umberto D," De Sica's 1952 neorealist film and
heart wrenching story of an elderly man and his dog struggling to survive on
his pension, earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay by Cesare Zavattini.
"Sciuscià" and "Ladri di biciclette" were awarded honorary Oscars, while De Sica's 1963, "Ieri, oggi, domani" and his 1971, "Il giardino dei Finzi
Contini" won the official awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
And speaking of "Ieri, oggi, domani," which
starred Sophia Loren, the two proved to be a match made in Oscar heaven, and made that adorable striptease scene infamous (See video clip). Three
of their films received nominations or the prized trophy. The other two films
were De Sica's 1960 "La Ciociara" (Two Women) which earned Loren an
Oscar for Best Actress, making her the first actor to be awarded the honor for
a performance in a foreign film; and De Sica's 1964, "Matrimonio
all'italiana" (Marriage Italian-Style), which earned two nominations for
Best Foreign Film and Best Actress.
De Sica's personal life didn't go quite as well as his
professional life. He was known to be a gambler, many times losing big and in
turn taking on less-interesting projects just to ease the financial pressure.
He did, however, leave a cinematic heir. In 1951, De Sica’s second wife,
Spanish actress Maria Mercader, gave birth to their son, Christian, who would
go on to follow in his father’s footsteps. Christian De Sica planted his
performing roots in music but fate took over and he has since become a
celebrated comic actor and director known for his hilarious sketches of Roman
characters and infamous Cinepanettone Christmas comedies. He is absolutely adored by audiences in
Italy. He is married to the sister of fellow actor/director, Carlo Verdone.
Vittorio De Sica’s legacy lives on the masterpieces he
created, and the unique way in which he documented a difficult time in Italy's
history through his neorealist films. Fortunately, many of his films are readily available. Click here to read about the new generation of De Sica and how Vittorio's grandsons are carrying on the family business
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