Few national cinemas offer as compelling a mirror to social transformation as Italy’s. In the decades following World War II, Italian filmmakers shaped a legacy of innovation, reflection, and artistry that still resonates on the global stage. A four-part series explores pivotal moments in Italian cinema—from the birth of Neorealism to the bold experimentation of contemporary filmmakers.
Art historian Jennie Hirsh guides participants through the films, directors, and cultural shifts that defined this cinematic evolution, offering a deeper understanding of how Italian film captured—and questioned—its time. Through clips, discussion, and visual analysis, Hirsh illuminates the aesthetic and ethical foundations of each period in Italian cinema and its enduring legacy in world film.
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Contemporary Crises and Postmodern Projections (1990s–Present)
From the 1990s to today, Italian cinema has reflected a rapidly changing society through diverse genres and bold storytelling. Directors have turned inward to explore the personal and political dimensions of modern life.
Hirsh traces these developments through both celebrated and lesser-known films—including Nanni Moretti’s Caro Diario and We Have a Pope, Gabriele Salvatores’ Mediterraneo, Paolo Sorrentino’s The Great Beauty, Alice Rohrwacher’s Heavenly Body, and the Taviani Brothers’ Caesar Must Die. She highlights how contemporary Italian directors have experimented with innovative styles to reflect social history while focusing on marginalized figures and themes such as gender, race, incarceration, class, and alienation—offering a look at how Italian cinema continues to reinvent itself in the 21st century.
Additional Sessions of the Postwar Italian Cinema Series
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