Rome, Open City story
Open City or Rome, Open City (Italian: Roma città aperta) is a 1945 Italian neorealist drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini. The picture features Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani and Marcello Pagliero, and is set in Rome during the Nazi occupation in 1944. The title refers to Rome being declared an open city after 14 August 1943. The film won several awards at various film festivals, including the most prestigious Cannes Grand Prix and was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar at the 19th Academy Awards.
17 total · 3 choice · 7 major · 7 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| resistance movement | choice | The story centered on the resistance to Nazi occupation of Rome. |
| what it is like to live through a military occupation | choice | We saw every day life for various people in Rome suffering Nazi occupation. |
| World War II | choice | the film showed Nazi occupation of Rome around 1943-44 |
| betrayal | major | Marina's betrayal of her boyfriend Giorgio was central to the story |
| coping with being tortured | major | the film started and ended with people screaming from being tortured by Nazis |
| engaged couple | major | Pina and Francesco |
| facing organized pursuit | major | Giorgio was on the run from Nazi military police |
| sacrifice for one's people | major | Giorgio and Don Petro suffered torture and died rather than betray their resistance movement |
| selling out for money | major | Marina's betrayal of her boyfriend Giorgio was central to the story - she got a fur coat and (presumably) money for the trouble |
| the Nazi stereotype | major | the various Nazis in the film were ruthless, efficient, sadistic, and zealous |