The Cinema of Franceso Rosi

"Francesco Rosi (1922-2015) occupies a unique place in postwar Italian, indeed postwar world cinema. His films show a consistent formal balance while representing historical events as social emblems that examine, shape, and reflect the national identity. This important body of work, which has made a vital mark on the works of directors like Martin Scorsese remains to be examined for the English-speaking audience. This study addresses Rosi's films as mosaics fashioned out of "clips" collected from the various stages of production, most specifically from the director's own archival materials. My approach situates each film in its artistic and cultural context, but also attends to the specific forms and ethical commitment that characterize each film"--