The Italian Film Industry

This article gives the analysis of the Italian film industry in general and then goes on to the film “Cinema Paradiso". In 1942 there was screened “Four Steps in the Clouds” directed by Blasetti. This film is about a humble employee and it is regarded as the first work of Italian neorealism. When the conditions of the country became improving another genre appeared. It is called “pink neorealism”. Before the so-called "boom" of the 1960s talented actresses became real celebrities owing to this genre that helped then to reveal their professional abilities. Among them are: Sophia Loren, Silvana Pampanini, Silvana Mangano, Gina Lollobrigida, Lucia Bosie, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Claudia Cardinale, and Stefania Sandrelli.

Soon after that pink neorealism stayed only in the history with the appearance of the new genre called “the Commedia all'Italiana” or “Italian Comedy”. “Italian Comedy” is a unique genre that is built on the humoristic line of serious and important social topics. At this very time, a Neapolitan actor famous as the main Italian comic appeared. His films, usually with the participation of such actors as Peppino De Filippo and Mario Castellani, were full of satire and were popular among the spectators. People loved his films, his mimic expressions and his gesture. All this created an inimitable personage and made this man one of the most beloved Italians in his own country.

The genre “Spaghetti Western” appeared almost at the same time and achieved great success in Italy and in the whole world. These films differed by their vivid cinematography and low budgets. One of the reprehensives of the genre is Sergio Leone with his “Dollars Trilogy”. The 1980’s is a period of a long crisis in Italian cinematography. “The Last Emperor” by Bertolucci is an important work and is a winner of 9 Oscars. At the same time films of little artistic value became very popular in Italy. The actors that helped this success are: Gloria Guida, Lino Banfi, Alvaro Vitali, Diego Abatantuono and Edwige Fenech. Nowadays the new generation of directors has helped return Italian cinema to a healthy level. The example of these changes is the new version of the film “Cinema Paradiso”. In 1990 its director Giuseppe Tornatore won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The article briefly analyzes the history of Italian cinema, its popularity at home and abroad. It provides an overview of the Italian cinema and its description of Italy and its people.