Rome Open City

A landmark of Italian cinema and of neo-realism, Rossellini’s portrait of life under the Nazi Occupation remains remarkable for its sheer immediacy, tension, and emotional power. Made immediately after the liberation of Rome, the film follows Manfredi (Marcello Pagliero), a partisan leader, as he attempts to evade the Gestapo and enlists the help of Pina (Anna Magnani) and Don Pietro (Aldo Fabrizi), the local priest ready to complete acts of resistance.