Roberto Rossellini's War trilogy.
(DVD)

Title and credits from outer container.

[Rome Open City] Originally released as a motion picture in 1945.

[Paisan] Originally released as a motion picture in 1946.

[Germany Year Zero] Originally released as a motion picture in 1948.

Includes booklet with essays and other information about the three films.

With their stripped-down aesthetic, largely nonprofessional casts, and unorthodox approaches to storytelling, these intensely emotional works were international sensations and came to define the neorealist movement. Shot in battle-ravaged Italy and Germany.

Special features: Rome open city: Video introduction by Roberto Rossellini (from 1963); audio commentary featuring film scholar Peter Bondanella; Once upon a time-- Rome open city (2006 documentary); video interview with Rossellini scholar Adriano Aprà; Rossellini and the city (visual essay by film scholar Mark Shiel); video interview with film critic and Rossellini friend Father Virgilio Fantuzzi ; Paisan: Video introduction by Roberto Rossellini from 1963; new video interview with Rossellini scholar Adriano Aprà; excerpts from rarely seen videotaped discussions Rossellini had in 1970 with faculty and students at Rice University about his craft; "Into the future:" a new visual essay about the War Trilogy by film scholar Tag Gallagher ; Germany year zero: Video introduction by Roberto Rossellini from 1963; Italian release opening credits and voice-over prologue; "Roberto Rossellini:" a 2001 documentary by Carlo Lizzani, assistant director of Germany year zero; "Letters from the Front: Carlo Lizzano on Germany year zero:" a podium discussion; interview with Rossellini scholar Adrian Apra; Italian directors Paolo and Vittorio Taviani discussing the profound influence Rossellini's films have had on them; "Roberto and Roswitha:" an illustrated essay by film scholar Thomas Meder on Rossellini's relationship with his mistress Roswitha Schmidt; and more.

Rome open city: Photography, Ubaldo Arata ; editing, Eraldo da Roma ; music, Renzo Rossellini.

Paisan: Photography, Otello Martelli ; editor, Eraldo da Roma ; music, Renzo Rossellini.

Germany year zero: Photography, Robert Jullard ; editors, Anne-Marie Findeisen, Eraldo da Roma ; music, Renzo Rossellini.

Rome open city: Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani, Marcello Pagliero, Vito Annichiarico, Nando Bruno, Harry Feist, Giovanna Galletti, Francesco Grandjacquet, Maria Michi, Carla Rovere.

Paisan: Carmela Sazio, Robert Van Loon, Dotts M. Johnson, Alfonso Bovino, Maria Michi, Gar Moore, Harriet White, Renzo Avanzo, Bill Tubbs, Father Vincenzo Carrella, Captain Owen Jones, Sergeant Elmer Feldman, Dale Edmonds, Achille Siviero, Robert Van Loel.

Germany year zero: Edmund Meschke, Ernst Pittschau, Ingetraud Hinze, Franz-Martin Grüger, Erich Gühne.

Rome open city: When the Nazis occupied Rome, a brave few fought against it. An underground agent who is cornered by the Germans in a certain quarter of Rome, flees the Germans. In the course of his flight he imperils his resistance friends.

Paisan: Set during the liberation of Italy at the end of World War II, and taking place across the country, from Sicily to the northern Po Valley. Looks at the struggles of different cultures to communicate and of people living their everyday lives in extreme circumstances.

Germany year zero: The concluding chapter of Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy is the most devastating, a portrait of an obliterated Berlin seen through the eyes of a 12-year old boy. Living in a bombed-out apartment building with his sick father and two older siblings, young Edmund is mostly left to wander unsupervised, getting ensnared in the black market schemes of a group of teenagers and coming under the nefarious influence of a Nazi-sympathizing ex-teacher.

Not rated.

DVD ; Dolby digital mono. ; NTSC ; region 1 ; Newly restored high-definition digital transfers.

Soundtrack in Italian (1,2) and German (1,3) with subtitles in English.