The two movies I watched were Journey to Italy Directed by Roberto Rossellini (1954), and The Grand Budapest Hotel Directed by Wes Anderson (2014). The films have quite a huge age difference, however, they both possess a lot of the same film styles and themes, while both also being original and unique movies in different ways.

Journey to Italy illustrated the Neorealism era, but was also regarded as contributing to the early French New Wave movement because of the filming style that Rossellini used. Rossellini filmed on location, and he gave the actors very little script to work with, trying to make the movie as authentic as possible. Rossellini is one of the big recognizable names and is known for creating movies that fit the Neorealism era, however, I think that Journey to Italy is better classified as a French New Wave film, than a Neorealism film.

People may have too quickly called the film Neorealist because the auteur of the film, Rossellini, is known for Neorealism. Italian Neorealism is described as showing post WWII life, focusing on the struggles and trials of lower class people, and using non professional actors. Journey to Italy is about two affluent people struggling with their relationship in terms of the societal environment they are experiencing, these people are played by two very well known actors at the time, and the filming style seems to be more narrative, as if the audience is getting a peek into the actors private lives- which is why I think it is more of a French New Wave film. As time goes on, critics recognize that Journey to Italy had a lot of French New Wave themes to it.

The film was seen as pretty unconventional when it came out, and got quite a bit of negative feedback, but films like The Grand Budapest Hotel, that are similar, are received very positively today. Although the movie was advertised as a romantic movie, it is more of a realistic drama, and I think a lot of people may have been mislead- possibly the reason the film was not received very well. I believe that films like Journey to Italy set the groundwork for many similar films today. Journey to Italy was a good representation of society, and how relationships really work, not sugarcoating anything, and leaving a lot of contemplation to the audience about the ending resolution. It challenged societal norms by forcing people to look realistically at relationships and it achieved authenticity and realistically painting parts of society as they were during that time, and even today. The directing and filming style of Rossellini continues to influence directors today such as Martin Scorsese (who directed movies like Goodfellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street). 

Rossellini also Influenced the director of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson. The movie is set during WWII and the build up of Nazi regime and the Holocaust. Something to note about the movie, is that it doesn’t focus on the war, it focuses on societal issues and individuals who were influenced by their environment. 

This movie is also shot in a narrative style, and uses cinematography to convey messages ‘between the lines’ of the characters. Anderson also used models, and miniature objects in his filming which gave the movie a whole different ‘theatrical’ feel, that is very unique in todays movie industry.

The movie also features comedy throughout, and the dry humor acts as a relief from the WWII impacts on the characters. It succeeds in creating a realistic feelings of characters during the time, some of which should be credited to Stefan Zweig, who had a great influence on the movie.

The Grand Budapest Hotel was received very well by critics and even won nine Academy Awards such as Best Director, and Best Picture, and won the  Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards. I thought it was interesting how a film using some of the same concepts as Journey to Italy, was given such positive feedback- it just goes to show how much the movie industry has changed over the years. What may have been considered an ‘unconventional’ movie in the 50’s now is seen as a mainstream success.

 

Critical Resources:

KELLUM, B. (2014). The Archeology of a Relationship: Journeying to Italy with Roberto Rossellini. Massachusetts Review, 55(4), 706-711.

Keough, Peter. “Movie Review: ‘Journey to Italy’ Looks at When the Heart Doesn’t Have Its Reasons – The Boston Globe.” BostonGlobe.com, 20 June 2013,

“Martin Scorsese on the Films of Roberto Rossellini – Conversations Inside The Criterion Collection.” YouTube, YouTube, 31 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFEt_EqqUqA.

 

Historical Resources:

“Journey to Italy / Viaggio in Italia (1954) – Trailer.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Oct. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR8E9URc_8E.

Bohne, Luciana. “Rossellini’s “Viaggio in Italia”: A Variation on a Theme by Joyce.” Film Criticism, vol. 3, no. 2, Winter78, pp. 43-52. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=31286112&site=ehost-live.

“Stefan Zweig’s Life.” STEFAN ZWEIG’S LIFE (1881-1942), gizra.github.io/CDL/pages/EC3B8D22-81D8-8D73-2AFD-F263C976B714/#70F1F07B-915B-F430-74FC-A0425393D6E4.