The Italian Embassy highlighted the golden age of Italian cinema during a reception celebrating its republican constitution at the Italian Ambassador to Korea Sergio Mercuri’s residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on Monday.

Italy’s republican form of government was adopted in 1947 after a popular referendum but the preceding years of post-war reconstruction are also remembered for the golden age of Italian cinema.

Italy’s Republic Day is celebrated on June 2.

Italian neorealism in film developed as Mussolini’s fascist government fell and the war ended. Characteristics of the style include scenes shot in the gritty streets and amid postwar poverty with nonprofessional actors, as well as themes of economic challenges and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonists.

Directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Federico Fellini, who is considered perhaps the most influential movie maker in the history of film, are two household names of Italian neorealism.

“The initial years of our republic were marked by the postwar reconstruction, a sort of miracle on the Tiber River,” Mercuri said. “But that exciting period and the following decades are also remembered as the golden age of the Italian movie industry.”

Italy was one of the very first countries to initiate diplomatic relations with Korea, establishing diplomatic ties in 1884.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)