From Rossellini to Rossellini

On July 16, 2007, at FUNGLODE’s auditorium, before a full crowd of predominantly students of film production and young film aficionados, Renzo Rossellini presented the film: Roma Ciudad Abierta, in order to illustrate both the artistic transcendence of his progenitor and the possibility of creating quality film despite budgetary constraints.

 

Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director of GFDD and Vice President of FUNGLODE, introduced Renzo, and spoke of his personal contributions he had made to the film industry, both with regard to productions and his work as an educator.

 

In his keynote address: “Roberto Rossellini Centennial Celebration: Film Beyond Hollywood,” Renzo
emphasized the need for peace that his father strove to communicate in his film, Roma Ciudad Abierta, which exposed the grave rights abuses that occurred during the Italian Civil War.

 

 

Italian producer, Renzo Rossellini referred
to his father, Roberto Rossellini, in these terms. It was a testimony of admiration for his father, but above all it was an act of recognizing Roberto Rossellini’s contribution to the film industry during a time of war when society yearned for peace and mutual understanding.

 

Renzo spoke of the utopian ideals evident in his father’s productions: the promotion of peace in times of war, the dignity of women and the
use of film to tell historical happenings.

 

Renzo highlighted his father’s capacity to work within constraints. In Roma Ciudad Abierta most of the scenes were open scenes due to the fact that production studios at the time were occupied by victims of war. Moreover, the majority of the actors that appeared in his films were ordinary people, not professional actors. According to Renzo, the challenges
Roberto experienced as a filmmaker during this time served as a catalyst for the development of a new cinematographic genre — neo-realism.

 

He reflected upon the series of films created by his father that featured women in lead roles, not as sexual objects, but as virtuous and intelligent beings. In doing so, asserted Renzo, he exposed a world of dignity, for which he was best known.

 

“His films made people want to be better human beings,” said Renzo admiringly of his father.

 

During the remainder of his time at FUNGLODE, Renzo Rossellini will be giving a workshop on creativity, artistic sensibility, budgetary restrictions and the use of new technologies. “Cinematographic Production within a Limited Budget” will take place Tuesday – Saturday, July 17-21 at
FUNGLODE.