Who is recognized as the founder of Italian Neorealism?

Roberto Rossellini is recognized as the founder of Italian Neorealism due to his pioneering work in the movement that emerged in the aftermath of World War II. Neorealism is characterized by its focus on the everyday lives of the working class and its use of non-professional actors, real locations, and authentic dialogue, which collectively sought to depict the harsh realities of post-war Italy. Rossellini’s film "Rome, Open City" (1945) is one of the hallmarks of this movement and effectively established the principles of storytelling that defined Neorealism.

His approach to filmmaking emphasized a more documentary style that broke away from the glamor and artificiality of earlier Italian cinema. This shift had a profound influence on filmmakers both in Italy and around the world, marking Rossellini's contributions as foundational to the movement.

The other figures mentioned, while significant in their own right, are associated with Neorealism in different capacities or different styles. Federico Fellini, for example, is known for his distinct and often fantastical style that emerged later, while both Luchino Visconti and Pier Paolo Pasolini contributed important works to the movement but did not establish its foundational practices to the same extent as