Dolce Vita photography exhibition in Rome focused on Italian Cinema Neorealism

Elisa della Barba More from this author See all team

Anna Magnani, De Sica, Mastroianni, Gassman: young and famous, they were all enjoying the Dolce Vita in Rome for real during the post-war boom. Manlio Villoresi’s camera captured them and we can finally see how they did it, in this exhibition in Rome, a must-see.

If you want to have an idea of what the Dolce Vita era was like, you have to go see the exhibition in Rome at Museo di Roma Palazzo Braschi Ombre e Luci (Shadows and Lights) - Volti del Cinema nei ritratti di Manlio Villoresi (cinema faces in Manlio Villoresi’s photographic portraits), which visually describes the period in Italy between 1920 and 1960.

Villoresi, Anna Magnani

All the actors of that era that would later become icons come alive again thanks to the photographer Manlio Villoresi - one of the most acclaimed photographers of the VIP lifestyle in Rome during those years - and the Archivio Fotografico di Roma that sheltered his 1550 negatives until today.

Villoresi, Marcello Mastroianni

Finally on display to the public, the images of Duse, Anna Magnani, the young Gassmann and Mastroianni, Domenico Modugno, together with many more divas belonging to the film world of the fascist era like Annibale Ninchi, protagonist of the movie "Scipione l'Africano", make the viewer dream and give a vivid picture of the allure of that era.

Villoresi, Vittorio De Sica

Some portraits of the 20’s recall more picturesque representations of these VIPs (like an unnatural wind or light disposition) but later on, the photos become much more natural and mirrored all the psychological aspects of whoever was portrayed.

Along with the 90 photos will be displayed also cinema customs of that era from Fondazione Annamode.