Italian Neo-Realism and the French New Wave in The 400 Blows and Rome, Open City
European films in the 20th century paved the way for many innovations in form, style and genre in the world of cinema. Two of the most prominent schools of filmmaking during this time were Italian neorealism and French New Wave; the former was pioneered by artists like Roberto Rossellini, the latter by French artists like Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut. Italian neorealism was recognized for its ability to capture the plight of the working class, its tendency to shoot outside the studio and introducing more naturalistic actors (who were often non-professionals) to the screen. The French New Wave, meanwhile, ...
