Rossellini's Anti-Fascist Trilogy: From Rome to Berlin

Roberto Rossellini's anti-fascist trilogy—Roma città aperta (1945), Paisà (1946), and Germania anno zero (1948)—emerged during the decline of Mussolini's regime and the Nazi occupation. These films, which combine elements of documentary realism with narrative fiction, illustrate Italy's journey to liberation amid the destruction of Berlin. Departing from his earlier works that served fascist propaganda (1941–43), Rossellini employed non-professional actors and authentic settings to portray the consequences of war. He referred to Roma città aperta as a film rooted in fear, and the initial distributor even confused it for a documentary. Germania anno zero showcased actors from Berlin’s ruins, representing a moral fracture. While the trilogy was celebrated in France and the US, it encountered mixed reactions in Italy and Germany. Notable collaborators included Aldo Fabrizi and Anna Magnani.