An anthology examining Italian neorealism’s influence on directors the world over. The parameters of the Italian neorealist movement in cinema have been loosely and somewhat controversially defined to include didactic, political films that address social issues in a cinematic format that tended to provide ideological and aesthetic alternatives to mainstream Hollywood film narratives. While the idea of influence recognizes, in some instances, the direct and explicit relationship certain directors and filmic traditions have with neorealism, we have avoided understanding this influence as a unidirectional annexation of neorealist techniques onto different socio-political topoi. We emphasize, rather, the fluid, intertextual relationship between films. The collection discusses a diverse array of national cinema traditions in dialogue with each other, shedding new and long-overdue light upon Italian neorealism’s ongoing impact on independent directors who work inside and outside of established film industry norms.

We are interested in essays which encompass neorealism in relation to a variety of national cinema traditions and/or specific directors, as well as a variety of theoretical approaches. The essays gathered thus far for the collection represent film from such areas as Iran, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Denmark, the U.S., Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina.

We are soliciting previously unpublished work and are especially interested in considerations of African, German, Eastern European, or Russian film. However, all inquiries are welcome. Due to the fact that we are currently in communication with a publisher, the deadline for receipt of completed essays (approximately 25 pages in length) is August 30th. Please contact Kristi Wilson before the deadline with your intention to submit an essay. Electronic submissions are welcome.

Editors: Laura E. Ruberto (University of California, Davis), Tomas Taraborrelli (University of San Francisco), Kristi M. Wilson (Stanford University).