Open City | Rotten Tomatoes (original) (raw)

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Critics Consensus

Open City fills in the familiar contours of its storyline with three-dimensional characters and a narrative depth that add up to a towering -- and still powerfully resonant -- cinematic achievement.

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Kevin Maher Times (UK) One of the toughest, bleakest, war films ever made, this Roberto Rossellini classic simply couldn't be any other way. Rated: 5/5 Jan 28, 2022 Full Review Kate Muir Times (UK) The neo-realist film's genius lies in a slow undertow, inexorably dragging the audience from laughter to tears. Jan 2, 2018 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker Handheld cameras tremble with the urgency of open wounds and violent emotion in Roberto Rossellini's 1945 drama of the Italian resistance to the capital's occupation by Nazi Germany. Oct 26, 2016 Full Review Clotilde Chinnici Loud and Clear Reviews Rossellini’s message of unity against injustice, wish for peace and hope for the future remains incredibly relevant and timely even today as the spectre of Fascist seems alive and well Rated: 5/5 Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One emotionally powerful scene follows another. Rated: 4/4 Nov 3, 2021 Full Review Asher Luberto L.A. Weekly Rossellini forever changed the way we look at movies. By shooting just six months after World War II, he was able to film Italy's recovery through actual bombed out buildings, using a mix of professional and non-professional actors for authentic results. Apr 5, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

david l Rome, Open City transcends its somewhat standard storyline due to its emotionally charged approach and excellent acting performances across the board with Anna Magnani being the standout. This Italian neorealist picture has too many plot points and characters, but at least their development is pretty strong and the directing from Rossellini was excellent. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A poetic style with substance but it runs very slow. The precepts of the neorealist cinema is very well developed. 4/10 Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review dave s Not only is Roberto Rossellini's Rome, Open City an influential cornerstone of the Italian neorealism movement, it's also a great movie. Set in Nazi occupied Rome of 1944, members of the Resistance desperately try to escape the German army, knowing that capture will lead to certain torture and probable death. It's a compelling story from the get-go, thanks primarily to remarkably well-developed characters, characters filled with courage, principles and humanity. While the first part of the film is filled with intrigue and suspense, the second half is something else altogether and is unforgettable in its impact. Rome, Open City is a film that is worthy of the praise bestowed upon it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Builds to a dramatic and emotional closing half hour. At time a little confusing what's going on, partly as subtitles were worse than I've seen before, missing huge chunks. Worth watching for the ending scenes as much as anything. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Tony S Monumental achievement of neo-realism. Hardly a tired parable of 'Fascism = Bad' but more of a examination of what makes one human and what it takes to lose all sense of humanity. Not even by how you treat other people but how you perceive and treat yourself as a person. As Don Pietro said: "It isn't hard to die well, It is hard to live well." Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/28/21 Full Review Audience Member Rome open city is a masterpiece of Italian and world cinema. This film is truly thrilling and realistic. All these thanks to the touching interpretations of Anna Magnani and Aldo Fabrizi and the excellent direction of Roberto Rossellini. A must-see at least once in a lifetime. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Open City (1945) Open City (1946) View more photos

Synopsis Rome, 1944. Giorgio Manfredi, one of the leaders of the Resistance is tracked down by the Nazis. He goes to his friend Francesco's, and asks Pina, Francesco's fiance, for help. Pina must warn a priest, Don Pietro Pellegrini, that Giorgio needs to leave the town as soon as possible.

Director

Roberto Rossellini

Producer

Ferrucio DeMartino, Roberto Rossellini

Screenwriter

Sergio Amidei, Alberto Consiglio, Sergio Amidei, Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini

Distributor

Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Inc., Reel Media International [us], Kino Video, Video Yesteryear

Production Co

Excelsa Film

Genre

Drama

Original Language

Italian

Release Date (Theaters)

Feb 25, 1946, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)

Oct 6, 2015

Runtime

1h 45m

Sound Mix

Mono

Aspect Ratio

Flat (1.37:1)