Made in the last days and immediate aftermath of World War II, Rossellini’s masterpiece initiated the movement known as Italian neorealism. Shooting on location and using a mix of nonprofessional actors and professionals playing against type (Magnani, Fabrizi), Rossellini presents a picture of Rome and its ordinary people struggling to survive under German occupation. Day-to-day life alternates with heroics, and we see a rare period of cooperation between Catholic clergy and Communist Party resistance in the face of the common enemy. The group predominates over individuals as Rossellini’s improvisational, documentary-like style gives unforgettable presence to the city of Rome at a particular moment in history.