neorealism

American  

[nee-oh-ree-uh-liz-uhm] / ˌni oʊˈri əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) any of various movements in literature, art, etc., that are considered as a return to a more realistic style.

2. a philosophy developed chiefly by 20th-century American philosophers, including Montague and Santayana, characterized by a presentationist epistemology and by the assertion of the real status of universals.

3. Movies. a style of filming prominent in Italy after World War II, characterized by a concern for social issues and often shot on location with untrained actors.

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neorealism British  

/ ˌniːəʊˈriːəlɪzəm /

noun

1. films a movement to depict directly the poor in society: originating in postwar Italy

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Other Word Forms

• neorealist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of neorealism

First recorded in 1915–20; neo- + realism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neorealism

Because of its towering reputation — lauded as one of our city’s finest films, a hallmark of American neorealism and the pinnacle of the Black independent filmmaker movement dubbed the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2025

One of the founders of Italian neorealism, Visconti apparently didn’t bother introducing himself to the young French actor.

From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2024

Grittily poetic works such as Roberto Rossellini’s “Rome, Open City” and Vittorio De Sica’s “Bicycle Thieves” were masterpieces of neorealism that turned themes of deprivation and desperation into high art.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 16, 2023

The second season does all that while incorporates the lovely longing intrinsic to Italian neorealism; it drifted, but never stalled.

From Salon ● May 23, 2021

Modern-day America looks just as grim in Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which won an award at Sundance this year in the category of neorealism.

From The Guardian ● May 6, 2020