A movement that changed cinema
Italian neorealism is one of the most influential film movements of the 20th century. Emerging in the post-war context, it transformed storytelling on the big screen, prioritising real locations, non-professional actors, and an ethic of truth that went beyond mere aesthetics. The book «Italian Neorealist Cinema», written by Antonio José Navarro, offers a detailed analysis of this phenomenon, from its origins in the 1930s—with films like Terra Madre (1931) by Alessandro Blasetti and Ossessione (1943) by Luchino Visconti—to its decline in the late 1950s, when Italy’s economic miracle redefined the country’s society and culture.
The study goes beyond revisiting the most emblematic works of directors such as Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, Giuseppe De Santis, and Alberto Lattuada. It also explores the movement’s legacy in later filmmakers like Michelangelo Antonioni, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Francesco Rosi. Through an examination of fifty key films, the book contextualises neorealism as a mirror of post-war Italy, where cinema became a social and political testimony.
The event at Librería Ramon Llull
The book presentation will take place on 11 September 2026 at 19:00 at Librería Ramon Llull, located at Carrer de la Corona, 5. The free event will feature Luis Pérez Ochando, the book’s author and a renowned film history expert. Pérez Ochando, a graduate in Audiovisual Communication and PhD in Art History from the University of Valencia, is also the academic director of the university’s Cinema Aula and has contributed to numerous film outreach projects.
The format will include a conversation between Pérez Ochando and the audience, addressing the book’s key themes and the lasting impact of neorealism on contemporary cinema. Seats are limited—only 23 tickets available—so early booking is recommended via the librery’s website.
