Open City is considered a classic for its early contributions to the neo-realistic style whose most famous proponents included Rossellini, De Sica and Visconti. Regardless of its historic importance in the development of cinema, Open City is a difficult film to watch. For one, the neo-realist style was not fully developed. It struck me as more non-professional and low-budget than realistic. Certainly it doesn't have the dramatic appeal of a Battle of Algiers or pack an emotional wallop like The Bicycle Thief. Unfortunately, not much happens. The narrative is very choppy and while I appreciate the tremendous difficulties Rossellini must have faced to complete the film, the end result is not very watchable. The German officer is very unrealistically portrayed as well. I haven't seen any other Rossellini film and doubt I will. The typical complaints I have with Open City, poor narrative flow, stilted acting, no emotional appeal and slow pace all register with many of his other films as well. There is a very small Martin Scorcese documentary as the only DVD extra which isn't much of an incentive to rent the movie.
Review of Rome, Open City
