I think it’s primarily popular because anyone can relate to the idea of non-material happiness. Everyone is scared about being in poverty so seeing someone actually embracing it is a refreshing take.
@@troubadour723honestly if you really think these filmmakers/screenwriters (which are artists and storytellers at heart) are in some rich people plot instead of actually wanting to show a human story that’s pretty sad and cynical. Honestly, people have such a talent to twist anything no matter how good or honest into a negative thing..
@@ameliaheart5091maybe the film makers don't realize the domination the capitalist have over all our thought processes? Maybe you don't realize it yourself?
The antidote to Marvel/superhero movies that we have become bored of. Takes us from being a passive observer to feeling something long after the credits have rolled
Absolutely right. Also the modern day action movies, i.e. Bond, Bourne, John Wick, etc, etc with impossible super heroes killing dozen of people and ridiculous car chases.
I don't feel a damn thing watching marvel, except wonder at the speed of the cuts and correspondingly, the attentional deficit modern audiences seem to exhibit. Also the complete lack of essence. People apparently have the attention span, and intellectual capacity, of a goldfish.
Overlooking the American neorealist films of the 70's and zero mention of Cassavetes was a little hard to bear, but otherwise a nice video. Unique channel, definitely subscribing.
exactly. If Midnight Cowboy and Women under the Influence aren't NeoRealist, idk what is. I think America had a brief period of these type of movies from like 67-78. The ones he mentions here are like NeoRealism Revival.
omg i was just looking for this comment!!!! i literally wanted to write down "talking about american neorealism and not mentionning cassavetes doesn't sit right with me" haha
I can't believe this was only 10 minutes long. Your editing and writing is amazing, I love your content choices as well. Earned a sub, I hope your channel does well, you deserve it.
Neorealism depicts social problems without showing a way to change the situation. Its characters just try to survive knowing they can do absolutely nothing for other people. What we really need is a solution to poverty, inequality and hate, and a hero that can find the solution or at least show it. That's the task of social realism. I hope we'll see more of it in the future.
Amazing video man - I'm glad you mentioned Roberto Rossellini, he's definitely overshadowed by Fellini in modern film circles. I will argue though that Neorealism does not necessarily need to be all unknown or untrained actors. Even Rossellini worked closely with Ingrid Bergman, who was a huge star at the time after Casablanca and Gaslight. Overall though, you nailed it. We're really lucky to be living through this realist revival in Hollywood. Red Rocket was probably my favourite film last year, and Uncut Gems is a top 5 for me of all time. Keep up the great work! Sorry about the long comment, the former film student in me is geeking out.
It’s so weird to have found you from your post on Reddit. I am a fan of all of these movies, Neo Realism in general, but also a fan of Kendrick, Scorsese films, Politics, social commentary… and damn! You tick all of the boxes. I make dumb boat videos, but at heart I am a lover of all of these things. I love art, film and music. Sent your channel to two of my former band mates and a buddy I worked on a movie with. Cannot wait for the next Video. Godspeed good sir
Damn im glad my videos are resonating with the right audience lol. Seems like we would get along. Thank you for the support and sharing the vids, it means a lot 🙏
There’s one missed connection here. These American Neorealist movies are HEAVILY influenced by modern European cinema. Stuff from the mid-90s to present. Especially France and Germany. Those countries during that time period fleshed out the Italian neorealist style and updated it. It’s extremely influential to arthouse-leaning American filmmakers.
@@erniescrabshack Jacques Audiard’s work. Krzysztof Kieślowski’s work. Paweł Pawlikowski’s work. Andrea Arnold’s work. Yorgos Lanthimos’s work. Joachim Trier’s work. Etc, etc.
The realist cinema of the 70's, the 90s, and 2000s all fit your definition of "American Neorealism", but they are all very different. The 1970s period is know as American New Wave cinema, starting with the shocking huge financial success of Easy Rider in 1969. American New Wave fits your definition: it broke from Hollywood conventions and the studio system, it focused on marginalized working class, veterans, and hippies (though almost all straight white men), it was a response to a war (in Vietnam), it used on-location filming and darker subject matter, it sometimes used non-pro actors (but they got famous quickly), and it took direct inspiration from Italian and French film. This New Wave was caused by the massive cultural shift of boomers becoming the largest US adult population in history and the slow rise of independent theaters caused by the Paramount Decrees (1948) - the theaters that played subversive films until they found a wide audience. The "Indie film" era of the 90s started with a return to big-budget Hollywood studio escapist cinema from mid 70s through the 80s. Boomers got jobs and kids and their tastes changed. But by the 90s, Hollywood was facing rising competition from home video and cable TV technology and the megaplex theater was born. This created a massive increase to the number of movies showing at the same time and an era of financial risk taking. To fill all those screens, new independent studios poured money into maverick films, and the film festival scene was created. For the firs time, the stories of black and female characters were greenlit. Some of those low budget films were huge financially successes, and some become cult classics. The current era started in the late 90s, and was caused by the rise of DVDs and the internet, including Netflix, the death of broadcast TV, globalization, and the corporate consolidation of Hollywood. The has all led to cinema that's dominated by mega-budget low-risk tent-poles. Compared to the 90s, far fewer "realist" films and far fewer unknown directors see wide theatrical distribution. But many great "maverick" films have been made in the past 20 years. They don't reach as wide an audience now because Americans also have so many media options. We don't all watch the same shows or see the same movies anymore, except the tent-poles. We have youtube. Boomers are no longer an economic force in cinema, so mono-culture dominance is much lower than in the 90s. For the first time, the stories of Asians and LGBTQ characters have been filmed. This era is about to end, and the 2030s will be the new era of personalized AI cinema.
Wow thanks for the informative comment. I definitely agree the "new wave" of the 70s was influential and deserved a mention. As far as the 2030s and beyond, I really am interested to see how AI will change filmmaking (and arts in general) but I hope and have faith it won't be the end of artists
I was just thinking about this type of movie genre some days back. I didn't know how to classify it, so I just called it drama. This has been my favourite genre for a long time now and I'm just realizing it. It dawned on me when I realized how much I love American Beauty that I've decided it is my favourite movie of all time.
90's independent filmmakers weren't "coming out of a war" in the most traditional sense, no, but America WAS just coming out of the COLD War, which, not-so-coincidentally, was a decades long resistance and "cold" opposition to communist Russia. I think the artistic and cultural events/environment of the early to mid 90's were definitely reactions to that, whether conscious or not.
Hey man keep doin what you do. I’ve been watching yo vids since the last temptation of Kendrick vid. Your production quality is as if the channel has been going on for years. It’s amazing, keep doin what u do
thank you so much for making this video! for a while I have been looking for the words to describe the kind of films that I like. specifically hell or high water, nomadland, leave no trace, moonlight, and mud. before now I'd only been able to describe them as mostly dramas that don't feel totally fictional, and without famous actors. i had no idea there was a term for this and i really hope more of this type of film gets made.
Fantastic video! Thank you very much. Neorealism is probably my favorite genre of film! I was obsessed with it as a young teenager, and still am now into my 40’s. I’m an Australian living in the US. Growing up, the TV/Movies I saw were predominantly American, with lots of US cultural references intertwined, many I didn’t understand (no, we don’t have cafeterias at our schools, we don’t have basements, everyone appears rich, but we Aussies can drink at 18). Living here now sometimes feels like a movie or a dream, it doesn’t always feel real, even watching neorealism. However, something about watching it helps me feel connected, like I understand others and they understand me.
Great video, and I appreciate your perspective on the genre. But I'm a little surprised at how little credit you give to the 1970s. Cassavettes and Rafelson leap to mind straight away. Fat City? Mean Streets? Blue Collar? Various Pacino movies that depict marginalized, lower class groups. Even an action-forward crime movie like French Connection has the impact of economics on the modern city at its center. While most of these might not feature non-professional actors, they certainly seem to fulfill most of the criteria you've listed. Now on to watch your Kendrick video! Thanks for the content.
Great video! Thank you. For me, Chloe Zhao's 'The Rider' and 'Songs My Brothers Taught Me' are probably my favorite American Neo Realist films. Ironic that they'd be made my a Chinese filmaker, but I think her "outsider's perspective" lends to her ability to frame the American experience. 'Florida Project' is also a fantastic film. 'Jeff Who Lives at Home' and 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' are another couple favorites. I'm fascinated by our human desire to transcend escapism, using film in this way to give a voice to the voiceless and achieve an emotional catharsis that would otherwise be lacking.
Thank you for making me realise how much I love neorealism.! When I read the title of this video I thought about Florida project. I'm Italian and grew up with post-war neorealism and I guess is coming from there. I'm not expert but how much is SUNDANCE festival contributing on evolution of this genre?
Great video. I just want to mention the John Cassavetes is the godfather of indie cinema in the US, we should certainly pay tribute to his contribution to Neo-Realism
Did you see that movie with the poor person in it. The poor person wasn't an actual poor person. It was another person who wasn't poor pretending to be poor. I knew this because when I turn over to another channel, the person who was pretending to be a poor person was in an ad for crisps. And you never see real poor people in crisp ads.
This is such a brilliant video essay. This is so superbly edited, your texts, transition and pacing and rhythm is beautiful. So many gorgeous stylistic choices. Love your concise explanation of the history of neorealism and your analysis. I really like your breadth of examples. I appreciate you including both the title and director for clips you show. Love the close-up text edits and your social and political comments on poverty and class. Brilliant video essay. Liked and subscribed!
And it's that type of artistic attitude that has made Hollywood the capital of Garbage Cinema compared to Continental Europe, where film makers assume that the audience is NOT Stupid and Clueless.
True Fact: 20 years ago one of my ex-girlfriends in LA used to promote beach parties in Malibu inviting A list actors and hot babes. Matthew McConaughey would constantly try attend but she wouldn't invite him because she said he never bathed and always stank like a homeless person
This is a great video, and filled with lots of movies I love and lots more that I want to see now. Thanks! I recommend Barbara Loden's 1971 film Wanda, a brilliant example of earlier American neo-realist moviemaking that has more in common with the Italian neo-realist style.
thanks for helping me discover the genre of all these films I like! its so nice to know what it is, now I can search for more, whereas before I would search 'american, on-location, culture films' :D
A lot of southern gothic, modern western, and naturalism elements throughout this genre. Some other notable movies are Joe -directed by David Gordon Green (Jeff Nichols buddy), No Country for Old Men, Out of the Furnace, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Blue Ruin, Lean on Pete, A Perfect World, Wild, Into the Wild, etc etc.
Thank you for this essay, as a film student, filmmaker and just getting to DP my 1st film this is also my favorite style of filmmaking but didn’t realize it was called neorealism. P.S. the place beyond the pines might be my favorite movie of all time now that I am a father. I loved it before but the film transcend its original meaning to me when that happened. I can’t even watch the trailer without crying.
"...were persecuted for being communist." 1. Because the vast majority of those accused _WERE_ communists. It was en vogue across the West until Khrushchev admitted the monstrosities of the soviet regime...and then only faded slowly. It's still very much with us in enclaves where bad ideas are protected from reality: academia. 2. When the stated goal of your movement is the imposition of a specific totalitarian vision over the preferences of the masses, you deserve far worse than being blacklisted. 3. Notably, this is the SINGLE EVENT in American political history when "the left" felt the bite of what's now known as "Cancel Culture"...and they will NEVER quit crying about it because it's just another propaganda tool in their arsenal. They're collectively brilliant at turning their obvious inadequacies and inconsistencies into weapons.
What do you think about Midnight Cowboy? The main two characters are certainly impoverished and the setting is of a decaying NYC of the late 60s. Rated X it won the best picture Oscar.
I think Place Beyond the Pines and Hell or High Water are good examples of movies that have a lot of elements of this style but in a more conventional action movie context, and I think thats cool
i like how Regan was a neoliberal, all about free speech and freedom. but wasn't far from a Fascist in reality. enforcing a police state, putting people in prison for having different thoughts then him
Great commentary. You might branch out from this and discuss some genre bending Neo-realist documentary/narrative hybrids like Vernon, Florida and Bombay Beach. Maybe even Chuck Norris vs Communism. Oh, and in terms of McCarthy's communist witch hunt, it's strange that you left out Elia Kazan's testimony to congress during that process, and how he named names, betraying many, despite being one of America's greatest neorealist directors.
i miss Midnight Cowboy that was the first rated R movie that got national distribution and was very neo realist and gloomy. I even more miss Cassavetes who was undoubtly The Great American neo realist of the '70's.
Wow. Where have you been, man? I've been looking for you and didn't even know it! This is strong medicine you're cooking, here. I like it. My 72 year old self needs it. I'll be back.
I would think so, I actually love this movie and had it written down to get some footage from but forgot sadly. Absolutely worth a watch. Might be a little more on the "unrealistic action" side like Killing Me Softly but I think they'd both be considered apart of the genre and many of the letterboxd lists seem to think so
We enjoyed this (as We do the genre). That being said you might have benefitted from slowing it down _just a smidgeon_ in the beginning for those of us jotting down film titles. Also Jim "Jar-moosh", Willem-"Will-um" Dafoe (though to be fair his birth name _is_ William).
The portrayal in cinema of the American working class is usually almost parody notably when we see characters dressed in clothing that would be beyond the reach of the minimum wage. I don't have a problem with Ryan Gosling in gritty roles such as Half Nelson, he obviously can act, but he is, as a movie star now unreality manifest. Mr Shannon in Take Shelter nails it, probably making him the actor of a generation, if we are to pretend realism in a medium that relies totally on the suspension of reality.
I'm curious what the budget of each of these films is. If neo-realism was born out of a need to transition away from studios in a post-war era I would think money (or lack of) was a contributing factor, does this still hold up in American neo-realism?
I know I'm late to the party: Your editing and thesis is tight as hell, and I like your inclusion of some 90s/early 00s movies. Clerks, Before Sunset and even The Place Between the Pines are great examples, and I know the point here is American Neorealism. But I'm interested to see where you think SLC Punk falls on that. (And while obviously not American) Trainspotting. I think the topic is a little too broad. Even things like Requiem for a Dream could/should fit into that or be credited for helping shift into that movement. Or hell Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri? Extra Edit: The Place Between the Pines is one of my favorite films. It's messy. It's rough. It's great. So can't shove enough props that way. Just asking about your opinion on the others.
I think it’s primarily popular because anyone can relate to the idea of non-material happiness. Everyone is scared about being in poverty so seeing someone actually embracing it is a refreshing take.
Or do the rich and powerful want people to embrace their poverty, since it's poverty that gives wealth its value?
@@troubadour723 and @roberttzou1219 you have just identified a key paradox
@@troubadour723 Super well put!
@@troubadour723honestly if you really think these filmmakers/screenwriters (which are artists and storytellers at heart) are in some rich people plot instead of actually wanting to show a human story that’s pretty sad and cynical.
Honestly, people have such a talent to twist anything no matter how good or honest into a negative thing..
@@ameliaheart5091maybe the film makers don't realize the domination the capitalist have over all our thought processes? Maybe you don't realize it yourself?
the longer i live the more confident i become in my 'blame Reagan for every problem in society' rule of thumb
I blame the whole administration and some of the ones that proceeded it.
The media made Ronald Reagan.
Turns out Walk was a real asshole too. His copied some fairy tales and nearly went bankrupt -- all while being an anti-semitic, anti-worker jerk.
At the same time we can also thank him that we weren't nuked
Seems like your mentally degenerating
The antidote to Marvel/superhero movies that we have become bored of. Takes us from being a passive observer to feeling something long after the credits have rolled
Absolutely right. Also the modern day action movies, i.e. Bond, Bourne, John Wick, etc, etc with impossible super heroes killing dozen of people and ridiculous car chases.
American honey
I don't feel a damn thing watching marvel, except wonder at the speed of the cuts and correspondingly, the attentional deficit modern audiences seem to exhibit. Also the complete lack of essence. People apparently have the attention span, and intellectual capacity, of a goldfish.
Couldn't have summed it up better myself, spot on!
@@mysterioanonymous3206 lol trying to sound edgy Marvel is best to watch for their CGI hands down .
There’s a few movies you mentioned you made me want to rewatch and a bunch more you put on my radar. Keep making these supremely well crafted videos.
Glad I could help and thank you
It's the poetry of everyday life. Beauty in the small and seemingly mundane. Great video man.
Overlooking the American neorealist films of the 70's and zero mention of Cassavetes was a little hard to bear, but otherwise a nice video. Unique channel, definitely subscribing.
exactly. If Midnight Cowboy and Women under the Influence aren't NeoRealist, idk what is. I think America had a brief period of these type of movies from like 67-78. The ones he mentions here are like NeoRealism Revival.
thought about Shadows the whole vid
Where is taxi driver?
I know what you mean
omg i was just looking for this comment!!!! i literally wanted to write down "talking about american neorealism and not mentionning cassavetes doesn't sit right with me" haha
I can't believe this was only 10 minutes long. Your editing and writing is amazing, I love your content choices as well. Earned a sub, I hope your channel does well, you deserve it.
Bro really invented a whole new genre to justify ryan gosling dickriding
lmao, great video tho as usual
if being poor is an art form I'm Michelangelo
Neorealism depicts social problems without showing a way to change the situation. Its characters just try to survive knowing they can do absolutely nothing for other people.
What we really need is a solution to poverty, inequality and hate, and a hero that can find the solution or at least show it. That's the task of social realism. I hope we'll see more of it in the future.
Amazing video man - I'm glad you mentioned Roberto Rossellini, he's definitely overshadowed by Fellini in modern film circles. I will argue though that Neorealism does not necessarily need to be all unknown or untrained actors. Even Rossellini worked closely with Ingrid Bergman, who was a huge star at the time after Casablanca and Gaslight.
Overall though, you nailed it. We're really lucky to be living through this realist revival in Hollywood. Red Rocket was probably my favourite film last year, and Uncut Gems is a top 5 for me of all time. Keep up the great work!
Sorry about the long comment, the former film student in me is geeking out.
No problem man thank you for the comment, Sean Baker and the Safdie bro's haven't missed once
It’s so weird to have found you from your post on Reddit. I am a fan of all of these movies, Neo Realism in general, but also a fan of Kendrick, Scorsese films, Politics, social commentary… and damn! You tick all of the boxes. I make dumb boat videos, but at heart I am a lover of all of these things. I love art, film and music. Sent your channel to two of my former band mates and a buddy I worked on a movie with. Cannot wait for the next Video. Godspeed good sir
Damn im glad my videos are resonating with the right audience lol. Seems like we would get along. Thank you for the support and sharing the vids, it means a lot 🙏
Blue valentine: the best movie I’ve seen that I never want to see again.
There’s one missed connection here. These American Neorealist movies are HEAVILY influenced by modern European cinema. Stuff from the mid-90s to present. Especially France and Germany. Those countries during that time period fleshed out the Italian neorealist style and updated it. It’s extremely influential to arthouse-leaning American filmmakers.
Like "La haine"? Denmark's "pusher" also springs to mind. Can you give me some German recommendations?
@@erniescrabshack Jacques Audiard’s work. Krzysztof Kieślowski’s work. Paweł Pawlikowski’s work. Andrea Arnold’s work. Yorgos Lanthimos’s work. Joachim Trier’s work. Etc, etc.
Just taking what you minimally need is how it should be. That is the message. Do not take anything more, than you absolutely need.
There's another reason: Hollywood had a monopoly on the films being made. Does 'Studio System' ring a bell?
The realist cinema of the 70's, the 90s, and 2000s all fit your definition of "American Neorealism", but they are all very different.
The 1970s period is know as American New Wave cinema, starting with the shocking huge financial success of Easy Rider in 1969. American New Wave fits your definition: it broke from Hollywood conventions and the studio system, it focused on marginalized working class, veterans, and hippies (though almost all straight white men), it was a response to a war (in Vietnam), it used on-location filming and darker subject matter, it sometimes used non-pro actors (but they got famous quickly), and it took direct inspiration from Italian and French film. This New Wave was caused by the massive cultural shift of boomers becoming the largest US adult population in history and the slow rise of independent theaters caused by the Paramount Decrees (1948) - the theaters that played subversive films until they found a wide audience.
The "Indie film" era of the 90s started with a return to big-budget Hollywood studio escapist cinema from mid 70s through the 80s. Boomers got jobs and kids and their tastes changed. But by the 90s, Hollywood was facing rising competition from home video and cable TV technology and the megaplex theater was born. This created a massive increase to the number of movies showing at the same time and an era of financial risk taking. To fill all those screens, new independent studios poured money into maverick films, and the film festival scene was created. For the firs time, the stories of black and female characters were greenlit. Some of those low budget films were huge financially successes, and some become cult classics.
The current era started in the late 90s, and was caused by the rise of DVDs and the internet, including Netflix, the death of broadcast TV, globalization, and the corporate consolidation of Hollywood. The has all led to cinema that's dominated by mega-budget low-risk tent-poles. Compared to the 90s, far fewer "realist" films and far fewer unknown directors see wide theatrical distribution. But many great "maverick" films have been made in the past 20 years. They don't reach as wide an audience now because Americans also have so many media options. We don't all watch the same shows or see the same movies anymore, except the tent-poles. We have youtube. Boomers are no longer an economic force in cinema, so mono-culture dominance is much lower than in the 90s. For the first time, the stories of Asians and LGBTQ characters have been filmed.
This era is about to end, and the 2030s will be the new era of personalized AI cinema.
Wow thanks for the informative comment. I definitely agree the "new wave" of the 70s was influential and deserved a mention. As far as the 2030s and beyond, I really am interested to see how AI will change filmmaking (and arts in general) but I hope and have faith it won't be the end of artists
Very informative. What do you think AI cinema will look like? Are there already some existing examples you can point to?
I was just thinking about this type of movie genre some days back. I didn't know how to classify it, so I just called it drama.
This has been my favourite genre for a long time now and I'm just realizing it. It dawned on me when I realized how much I love American Beauty that I've decided it is my favourite movie of all time.
90's independent filmmakers weren't "coming out of a war" in the most traditional sense, no, but America WAS just coming out of the COLD War, which, not-so-coincidentally, was a decades long resistance and "cold" opposition to communist Russia. I think the artistic and cultural events/environment of the early to mid 90's were definitely reactions to that, whether conscious or not.
Hey man keep doin what you do. I’ve been watching yo vids since the last temptation of Kendrick vid. Your production quality is as if the channel has been going on for years. It’s amazing, keep doin what u do
I think you're literally the best youtuber I follow, every video is so well made
thank you so much for making this video! for a while I have been looking for the words to describe the kind of films that I like. specifically hell or high water, nomadland, leave no trace, moonlight, and mud. before now I'd only been able to describe them as mostly dramas that don't feel totally fictional, and without famous actors. i had no idea there was a term for this and i really hope more of this type of film gets made.
This channel is gonna hit 100k in no time. Algorithm has been pickin up like crazy lately
Fantastic video! Thank you very much. Neorealism is probably my favorite genre of film! I was obsessed with it as a young teenager, and still am now into my 40’s. I’m an Australian living in the US. Growing up, the TV/Movies I saw were predominantly American, with lots of US cultural references intertwined, many I didn’t understand (no, we don’t have cafeterias at our schools, we don’t have basements, everyone appears rich, but we Aussies can drink at 18). Living here now sometimes feels like a movie or a dream, it doesn’t always feel real, even watching neorealism. However, something about watching it helps me feel connected, like I understand others and they understand me.
Great video, and I appreciate your perspective on the genre. But I'm a little surprised at how little credit you give to the 1970s. Cassavettes and Rafelson leap to mind straight away. Fat City? Mean Streets? Blue Collar? Various Pacino movies that depict marginalized, lower class groups. Even an action-forward crime movie like French Connection has the impact of economics on the modern city at its center. While most of these might not feature non-professional actors, they certainly seem to fulfill most of the criteria you've listed. Now on to watch your Kendrick video! Thanks for the content.
I fucking love blue collar
Way too underrated. Love your channel, man. Wishing you luck
Great essay. ‘War Pony’ is my favorite recent gem in this direction.
Great video! Thank you. For me, Chloe Zhao's 'The Rider' and 'Songs My Brothers Taught Me' are probably my favorite American Neo Realist films. Ironic that they'd be made my a Chinese filmaker, but I think her "outsider's perspective" lends to her ability to frame the American experience. 'Florida Project' is also a fantastic film. 'Jeff Who Lives at Home' and 'The Peanut Butter Falcon' are another couple favorites. I'm fascinated by our human desire to transcend escapism, using film in this way to give a voice to the voiceless and achieve an emotional catharsis that would otherwise be lacking.
I think it's only fitting for the American version of neorealism to have the rich & famous depict the poor.
Thanks for making me aware of neorealism. Love the movie 'Mud'.
One of my favorites.
I'm actually shocked to hear they make movies anymore. Last time I checked everyone was talking about some series called Marvel
Thank you for making me realise how much I love neorealism.!
When I read the title of this video I thought about Florida project.
I'm Italian and grew up with post-war neorealism and I guess is coming from there.
I'm not expert but how much is SUNDANCE festival contributing on evolution of this genre?
The detail here is on another level, love how you explained things so succinctly and without any trace of pretension
Great video. I just want to mention the John Cassavetes is the godfather of indie cinema in the US, we should certainly pay tribute to his contribution to Neo-Realism
Thanks for the cool historical analysis of American film history!
Wait yo the quality of these is insane
And those numbers 😮 bro you are going to BLOW up, wow
Did you see that movie with the poor person in it. The poor person wasn't an actual poor person. It was another person who wasn't poor pretending to be poor. I knew this because when I turn over to another channel, the person who was pretending to be a poor person was in an ad for crisps. And you never see real poor people in crisp ads.
This is such a brilliant video essay. This is so superbly edited, your texts, transition and pacing and rhythm is beautiful. So many gorgeous stylistic choices. Love your concise explanation of the history of neorealism and your analysis. I really like your breadth of examples. I appreciate you including both the title and director for clips you show. Love the close-up text edits and your social and political comments on poverty and class. Brilliant video essay. Liked and subscribed!
TyFrom will pass 100k before the year ends, he’s always on point
Friedkin and Letts also made Bug and Killer Joe, which fit pretty well into this genre (though subtly blending in traces of sci-fi and horror)
Cool part about neorealism is that any film student can do it with an iPhone and some creativity.
And it's that type of artistic attitude that has made Hollywood the capital of Garbage Cinema compared to Continental Europe, where film makers assume that the audience is NOT Stupid and Clueless.
Thank you for referencing Clerks as a fundamental piece of the 90s indy / neo realist movement.
This is an excellent essay. Thank you for making this!
True Fact: 20 years ago one of my ex-girlfriends in LA used to promote beach parties in Malibu inviting A list actors and hot babes. Matthew McConaughey would constantly try attend but she wouldn't invite him because she said he never bathed and always stank like a homeless person
I think all the clips labeled Before Sunset are actually from the earlier Before Sunrise.
This is a great video, and filled with lots of movies I love and lots more that I want to see now. Thanks! I recommend Barbara Loden's 1971 film Wanda, a brilliant example of earlier American neo-realist moviemaking that has more in common with the Italian neo-realist style.
that was an amazing dissection of the history behind this film movement. instant sub from me. thanks!
thanks for helping me discover the genre of all these films I like! its so nice to know what it is, now I can search for more, whereas before I would search 'american, on-location, culture films' :D
This was great! 🙏
A lot of southern gothic, modern western, and naturalism elements throughout this genre. Some other notable movies are Joe -directed by David Gordon Green (Jeff Nichols buddy), No Country for Old Men, Out of the Furnace, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Blue Ruin, Lean on Pete, A Perfect World, Wild, Into the Wild, etc etc.
Thank you for this essay, as a film student, filmmaker and just getting to DP my 1st film this is also my favorite style of filmmaking but didn’t realize it was called neorealism. P.S. the place beyond the pines might be my favorite movie of all time now that I am a father. I loved it before but the film transcend its original meaning to me when that happened. I can’t even watch the trailer without crying.
Bicycle Thieves is a beautiful film
Good storytelling in this essay...excited to see this channel grow
This needed to be at least an hour long. What a great discourse!
"...were persecuted for being communist."
1. Because the vast majority of those accused _WERE_ communists. It was en vogue across the West until Khrushchev admitted the monstrosities of the soviet regime...and then only faded slowly. It's still very much with us in enclaves where bad ideas are protected from reality: academia.
2. When the stated goal of your movement is the imposition of a specific totalitarian vision over the preferences of the masses, you deserve far worse than being blacklisted.
3. Notably, this is the SINGLE EVENT in American political history when "the left" felt the bite of what's now known as "Cancel Culture"...and they will NEVER quit crying about it because it's just another propaganda tool in their arsenal. They're collectively brilliant at turning their obvious inadequacies and inconsistencies into weapons.
What do you think about Midnight Cowboy? The main two characters are certainly impoverished and the setting is of a decaying NYC of the late 60s. Rated X it won the best picture Oscar.
Incredible video!! Would love to hear more about movies stuff you’re interested in!
I think Place Beyond the Pines and Hell or High Water are good examples of movies that have a lot of elements of this style but in a more conventional action movie context, and I think thats cool
i like how Regan was a neoliberal, all about free speech and freedom. but wasn't far from a Fascist in reality. enforcing a police state, putting people in prison for having different thoughts then him
Not even ten seconds in and I got chills lmao
Great commentary. You might branch out from this and discuss some genre bending Neo-realist documentary/narrative hybrids like Vernon, Florida and Bombay Beach. Maybe even Chuck Norris vs Communism. Oh, and in terms of McCarthy's communist witch hunt, it's strange that you left out Elia Kazan's testimony to congress during that process, and how he named names, betraying many, despite being one of America's greatest neorealist directors.
i miss Midnight Cowboy that was the first rated R movie that got national distribution and was very neo realist and gloomy.
I even more miss Cassavetes who was undoubtly The Great American neo realist of the '70's.
Great work, you’ve got me excited about some new films.
Wow. Where have you been, man? I've been looking for you and didn't even know it! This is strong medicine you're cooking, here. I like it. My 72 year old self needs it. I'll be back.
An important genre. And i guess delicate to get right.
Just saw "Out of the Furnace", would you think it's of this genre?
I would think so, I actually love this movie and had it written down to get some footage from but forgot sadly. Absolutely worth a watch. Might be a little more on the "unrealistic action" side like Killing Me Softly but I think they'd both be considered apart of the genre and many of the letterboxd lists seem to think so
your YT videos are amazing - keep making them!
didn't think i would enjoy this type of content but I'm glad i clicked on your video ;)
at 7:58 it says Columbus came out in 2015 but ackthually it came out in 2017 (a very different film named Columbus came out in 2015)
What a gem of a video
Wow this was such a good video!
Thanks for writing the list of movies :) now I have what to watch :D
We enjoyed this (as We do the genre). That being said you might have benefitted from slowing it down _just a smidgeon_ in the beginning for those of us jotting down film titles. Also Jim "Jar-moosh", Willem-"Will-um" Dafoe (though to be fair his birth name _is_ William).
*Gummo* is the ultimate American Neorealism
Harmony Korine is pretty hardcore
The channel is impressive, I mean really, I am inspired.
The portrayal in cinema of the American working class is usually almost parody notably when we see characters dressed in clothing that would be beyond the reach of the minimum wage. I don't have a problem with Ryan Gosling in gritty roles such as Half Nelson, he obviously can act, but he is, as a movie star now unreality manifest. Mr Shannon in Take Shelter nails it, probably making him the actor of a generation, if we are to pretend realism in a medium that relies totally on the suspension of reality.
I highly recommend the films of Bryan Wizemann - You Mean Everything to Me and About Sunny.
I sincerely appreciate your content 🙏 Thank you for sharing ur knowledge with us
if you haven't gotten into british neorealism yet, i highly recommend michael leigh's Naked.
1:132 woah what kind of lens is that? that's crazy!
I'm curious what the budget of each of these films is. If neo-realism was born out of a need to transition away from studios in a post-war era I would think money (or lack of) was a contributing factor, does this still hold up in American neo-realism?
You just gave me so many movies to watch
I have always argued that “The Red Balloon”’s true genre is neorealism
great video !! i love your content
This was great!
Great edit at 4:55
You'll have a million subs before this time next year.
Your content is very good
Got so many new movies on my radar from this. Cheers 🎉
Thanks for helping me figure out what my preferred movie genre is :)
Such a dope breakdown… Thank you for this
This was really good man. Thanks.
This is an interesting look back at fil history, I wonder if this led to the spaghetti western directly?
I'm not a cinephile by any means, but would Vincent Gallo's Brown Bunny have a neorealist approach?
Not really.
Perfect Days (2023) dir. Wim Wenders
Simplicity and a monk-like existence will win in the end my friend.
This was excellent, thank you!
I'll take this over Noah Baumbach movies.
I know I'm late to the party: Your editing and thesis is tight as hell, and I like your inclusion of some 90s/early 00s movies. Clerks, Before Sunset and even The Place Between the Pines are great examples, and I know the point here is American Neorealism. But I'm interested to see where you think SLC Punk falls on that. (And while obviously not American) Trainspotting. I think the topic is a little too broad. Even things like Requiem for a Dream could/should fit into that or be credited for helping shift into that movement.
Or hell Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri?
Extra Edit: The Place Between the Pines is one of my favorite films. It's messy. It's rough. It's great. So can't shove enough props that way. Just asking about your opinion on the others.
There’s a billion fantastic historical stories to tell and we replay marvel and nazis a billion times… such a dull period of art
Do you have any more information on the japanese soldier movie at 1:45 "solitary traveller" ? i cant find it on imdb
Very well made video, keep it up, and thank you! :D
I don’t know, I still see a trend with rich protagonists. Seeing poor characters is always refreshing .