Italian Cinema's Resilient Realist Tradition

Christian Caliandro argues that Italian cinema over the past two decades has maintained a strong realist vein, distinct from commercial comedies and bourgeois dramas. This tradition, rooted in neorealism (Rossellini, Rosi, Pasolini, Damiani), uses updated realism to explore collective identity. Key films include Alessandro Piva's "LaCapaGira" (1999), which depicted a non-stereotypical Bari; Matteo Garrone's "Gomorra" (2008), adapting Saviano's novel with a 1960s aesthetic; and his "Reality" (2012), a magical realist masterpiece. Other notable works: Piva's "Henry" (2010), Stefano Sollima's "ACAB" (2012), Gabriele Mainetti's "Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot" (2016), Edoardo De Angelis's "Indivisibili" (2016), and Jonas Carpignano's "A Ciambra" (2017). These films blend genres, focus on peripheral communities (Castel Volturno, Gaeta, Gioia Tauro), and portray an apocalyptic yet transformative Italy. They are collaborative efforts involving directors, writers, actors, and visual artists, creating a new aesthetic and reception mode.