PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR YEAR 12 – UNIT 3 – OUTCOME 3 These questions are meant for you to reflect upon the topic. They are to assist you in the preparation of comprehensive responses that you would need to give in Italian during the course of the SAC. You should prepare the responses in as much detail as possible and be aware that you will be required a certain amount of detail when giving the responses in Italian so as to maintain the conversation.
1. Do you believe that the representation made in neorealist films demonstrated a positive or negative view of post WWII Italy?
2. Do you believe that the features of the Neorealism contributed to the development of Italian culture?
3. In the films you watched women were represented in very different ways. Analyse the roles of Anna Magnani in “Bellissima”, Anita Eckberg in “La dolce vita”, Lianella Carell (Maria, Antonio’s wife) in “Ladri di biciclette” and Nicoletta Braschi (Dora) in “La vita e’ bella”.
4. In the films you watched you saw three examples of Italian families during and after WWII: the family in “Ladri di biciclette”, the one in “Bellissima” and the one in “La vita e’ bella”. Discuss the differences between the three families.
Do you think that the situation depicted in these movies was a common situation in all Italian families during that period?
5. Children are often present in neorealist films. A couple of examples you saw were Bruno in “Ladri di biciclette” and Maria in “Bellissima”. Starting with the meaning of children in neorealist films, discuss about their roles in the story and the meaning of their presence. Do you agree with the neorealist point of view or not? How the children in neorealist movies differ or are similar to the child in “La vita e’ bella”?
6. “Ladri di biciclette” is considered as one of the main examples of neorealist cinema. Do you agree with this statement or not? Why?
7. One of the features of neorealist movies is the use of the dialect, instead of Italian. Do you agree with this choice? And according to your opinion and to the history of Italian you studied, what are the reasons behind it?
8. In neorealist movies non-professional actors are often chosen. Why? In your opinion, how does this choice affect the final result of the movie?
9. Another important feature of neorealist films is the fact that the sets were mainly filmed in everyday places, without fake sets.
Give specific examples of this feature. Do you think this was effective in relation to the purpose of Neorealism?
10. How does “La vita e’ bella” differs from the neorealist films?
These questions are meant for you to reflect upon the topic. They are to assist you in the preparation of comprehensive responses that you would need to give in Italian during the course of the SAC.
You should prepare the responses in as much detail as possible and be aware that you will be required a certain amount of detail when giving the responses in Italian so as to maintain the conversation.
1. Do you believe that the representation made in neorealist films demonstrated a positive or negative view of post WWII Italy?
2. Do you believe that the features of the Neorealism contributed to the development of Italian culture?
3. In the films you watched women were represented in very different ways. Analyse the roles of Anna Magnani in “Bellissima”, Anita Eckberg in “La dolce vita”, Lianella Carell (Maria, Antonio’s wife) in “Ladri di biciclette” and Nicoletta Braschi (Dora) in “La vita e’ bella”.
4. In the films you watched you saw three examples of Italian families during and after WWII: the family in “Ladri di biciclette”, the one in “Bellissima” and the one in “La vita e’ bella”. Discuss the differences between the three families.
Do you think that the situation depicted in these movies was a common situation in all Italian families during that period?
5. Children are often present in neorealist films. A couple of examples you saw were Bruno in “Ladri di biciclette” and Maria in “Bellissima”. Starting with the meaning of children in neorealist films, discuss about their roles in the story and the meaning of their presence. Do you agree with the neorealist point of view or not? How the children in neorealist movies differ or are similar to the child in “La vita e’ bella”?
6. “Ladri di biciclette” is considered as one of the main examples of neorealist cinema. Do you agree with this statement or not? Why?
7. One of the features of neorealist movies is the use of the dialect, instead of Italian. Do you agree with this choice? And according to your opinion and to the history of Italian you studied, what are the reasons behind it?
8. In neorealist movies non-professional actors are often chosen. Why? In your opinion, how does this choice affect the final result of the movie?
9. Another important feature of neorealist films is the fact that the sets were mainly filmed in everyday places, without fake sets.
Give specific examples of this feature. Do you think this was effective in relation to the purpose of Neorealism?
10. How does “La vita e’ bella” differs from the neorealist films?