neorealism
noun
neo·re·al·ism
ˌnē-ō-ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 
: a movement especially in Italian filmmaking characterized by the simple direct depiction of lower-class life
Examples of neorealism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aesthetically, fantasy was often opposed to neorealism, a preferred aesthetic of the left.
—
Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
Not everyone bought the idea, however, that Nemes’ death-camp neorealism was ultimately any less slick or manipulative than Spielberg’s more classical suspense-thriller technique.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
At the time the novel was published, Italian literary culture revolved around neorealism.
—Jess Bergman, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023
The epitome of Italian neorealism, Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948), got two first-place votes but wound up only #52.
—J. Hoberman, The New Republic, 22 June 2023
For lovers of the golden age of Italian cinema, one of the keenest pleasures of Leonora Addio will be its clever incorporation of clips from Rossellini, Antonioni, Lattuada and others to evoke the World War II years so vividly memorialized in classics of neorealism.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2022
And as for neorealism?
—Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022
Antonioni started working during the Italian neorealism movement, when films were shot on location, making use of nonactors, telling stories about working-class people and poverty and despair.
—Carina Chocano, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
How important were the influence of Fellini and Italian neorealism on you?
—Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022
Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
Not everyone bought the idea, however, that Nemes’ death-camp neorealism was ultimately any less slick or manipulative than Spielberg’s more classical suspense-thriller technique.
—Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023
At the time the novel was published, Italian literary culture revolved around neorealism.
—Jess Bergman, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023
The epitome of Italian neorealism, Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves (1948), got two first-place votes but wound up only #52.
—J. Hoberman, The New Republic, 22 June 2023
For lovers of the golden age of Italian cinema, one of the keenest pleasures of Leonora Addio will be its clever incorporation of clips from Rossellini, Antonioni, Lattuada and others to evoke the World War II years so vividly memorialized in classics of neorealism.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2022
And as for neorealism?
—Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022
Antonioni started working during the Italian neorealism movement, when films were shot on location, making use of nonactors, telling stories about working-class people and poverty and despair.
—Carina Chocano, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2022
How important were the influence of Fellini and Italian neorealism on you?
—Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neorealism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1950, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near neorealism
Cite this Entry
“Neorealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neorealism. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neorealism
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