Rome, Open City

OPEN CITY, Roberto Rossellini's startling depiction of Nazi-occupied World War II Rome, and one of the most prominent examples of his neorealist cinematic style, is the story of a tenaciously held underground resistance against the Germans. When its leader, Manfredi (Marcello Pagliero), and a priest, Don Pietro (Aldo Fabrizi), are captured, the resistance collapses, with disastrous personal results to all. (official distributor synopsis)