French New Wave

Neorealism influenced every subsequent movement that valued authenticity over polish: the French New Wave, British kitchen-sink dramas, Iranian cinema, the Dogme 95 movement, and independent film worldwide. The principle — that truth can be found in real faces and real streets — became a permanent alternative to Hollywood spectacle.

The movement was short-lived (roughly 1943-1952) because Italian audiences eventually wanted escapism, and the government pressured filmmakers to present a more positive national image. But neorealism proved that cinema's most powerful moments often require the least resources.