Roberto Rossellini Biography

Fascinated by the mechanics of cinema, Roberto began making films as a teenager,

In 1938, Vittorio Mussolini, movie-executive and son of the Italian dictator, invited Roberto to direct a documentary about an Italian hospital ship. Rossellini expanded it, and 'La Nava Bianca' was released in 1941.

Whilst being used as a director of propagandist fascist films during the Second World War, Rossellini secretly spent his time taking footage of anti-Mussolini resistance fighters.

Using a hand-held camera, he began work in 1943 on a film 'Desiderio', which is often considered the first neo-realist film.

Unfortunately, he was unable to complete it, and it was not until 1945 and towards the fall of fascism that he was to begin work on his first classic, 'Rome Citta Aperta / Rome Open City'.

Ignoring invitations from Hollywood, Rossellini remained in Italy to film further influential works, such as 'Paisa' and 'Germania Anno Zero'.

In 1949 he met, and became lovers with, the actress Ingrid Bergman, whose scandalous elopement led to their collaboration throughout 1949-1953 on, amongst other films, 'Stromboli' in 1949.

They also had three children together, including Isabella Rossellini, later to enjoy fame as an actress.

After conducting an affair with an Indian scriptwriter in 1957, Rossellini and Bergman parted, and it looked as if his career was over.

In 1959, 'General Della Rovere' restored his reputation, after which he devoted himself to TV movies, specialising in irreverent biographies of great figures from history such as Louis XIV and Socrates.

His last, controversial film was 'Il Messia', released in 1978. Rossellini died on the 4th June 1977.