Anna Magnani as a Post War Icon
After learning about Anna Magnani as a star, my main interest ultimately lays with the social context surrounding her stardom rather than her as a person. Her acting techniques fit into the time period in Italy perfectly, as she represented neorealism. It is interesting how the end of WWII in Italy sprouted this new wave in film, and this blog will explore how neorealism and Anna Mignani’s stardom came to be.
During WWII, the Italian leader Mussolini had the country in a horrible space economically, politically, socially, etc. The Italian films being produced during this time held no deep meaning or social value, and a lot of them were shallow comedies. Some people in the industry decided to break off from studios to make films with an effort on reflecting the struggles in the country. When WWII ended, these types of films flourished and it was known as neorealism.
Anna Magnani was featured in the film Rome, Open City in 1946, a year after the war ended. The film was about Nazi occupation in Rome, and a man seeking refuge and escape from a Nazi. One can only imagine the popularity this film had in Italy after the country went through such a difficult and trying time. This film solidified Anna Magnani’s acting style and her star persona. Her dramatic performances and facial expressions embodied the neorealist movement in film. From this point forward, she held similar roles in which she was able to master her techniques and bring audiences authenticity and a mirror on society. Her star persona reflected her acting style, as she was viewed as charismatic and authentic. This was perhaps due to the fact that she grew up in Italy during the war and was familiar to the struggles going on in the country; it brought a sense of trust between her and her fans.
Over a decade later, Magnani starred in Momma Roma. In this film, she plays a prostitute that saves up money to earn a modest living. She seeks out her son that she had to abandon when he was just a baby, but the film ends in tragedy when her son dies. At the end of the movie, Magnani’s special acting talents are put on display:
What is striking to me is that even with the war behind them, the country is still yearning for films to represent everyday struggles in the country via neorealist films. It speaks to the level of trauma that the country of Italy faced during WWII that these films were popular for this many years after. Some may feel that the Italian neorealism era in film ended in the 1950’s, but films like these with dramatic performances by neorealist stars show that war and neorealism had long lasting effects on culture in the country.
Magnani developed a star persona that was special compared to other stars of her time. Compared to stars out west, her charisma and authenticity brought fresh air to Italian culture. She molded herself into the film industry in a way that average Italian citizens could identify with, and it doesn’t hurt that she was a phenomenal actress at an Oscar winning level.
