Wide Open City

Even thought the class did not have to watch Rome: Open City, I did get a chance to see it myself. The film places some very interesting characters into an important event that affected the world, World War II. The characters were so interesting because they has their own stories, but were placed in an important time. I could not help but think of Medium Cool and the way that film incorporated characters into true events. However, Open City succeeded where Medium Cool failed. Open City gave us characters who had a real reason for being in the film. Some were fighting the Nazis for the better of the country, while others were trying to silence the liberators in order for the Nazis to have full control. The viewer really felt for the characters in the film, especially the priest. Don Pietro was such an interesting characters because this priest was torn between his duty to God and his duty to his fellow man. He did what he could in order to help those who fought for people's freedom. Don Pietro even gives up his life at the end of the film instead of giving up secrets to the enemy. The audience can really feel a connection with the priest because he is giving up his own life for the freedom of others. The film provides us with an intimate look at those brave figures who attempted to fight oppression and bring freedom to their people.