Locating the Real
The chapter considers neorealism as a cultural construct responding to historical needs. Neorealism aimed to mark a discontinuity with Fascism, rebuild the nation, and examine afresh its people, landscape, and neglected areas. For this reason, neorealism was a politically contested culture, producing both innovative works and formulaic but popular ones. In addition, the chapter scrutinises the role that neorealist film production played in post-war cultural diplomacy, which was based on mutual recognition among nations. Therefore, the chapter examines the international cultural exchange of Italian neorealism with countries on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Finally, the work focuses on the emergence of a transnational style in Europe and in the US, with neorealism holding a major role in it, together with film noir.