Realism in film directing brings authenticity to the screen. Directors use natural performances, unobtrusive camerawork, and everyday situations to create a raw, unvarnished view of life. This approach challenges audiences to engage more deeply with the characters and their struggles.

From Italian Neorealism to modern indie films, realist techniques have evolved but maintain their core principles. By emphasizing genuine emotions and real-world settings, these films offer a powerful lens through which to examine society and human nature.

Realism in Film Directing

Characteristics of realist film directing

• Authentic and naturalistic performances
  • Encouraging improvisation and spontaneity from actors to capture genuine, unscripted moments (method acting)
  • Capturing genuine emotions and reactions, often through multiple takes and allowing actors to fully inhabit their roles
  • Minimizing theatrical or exaggerated acting styles in favor of understated, subtle performances (mumblecore)
• Unobtrusive and observational cinematography
  • Using long takes and minimal editing to create a sense of real-time action and continuity (plan-séquence)
  • Employing handheld cameras or steady cam for a sense of immediacy and intimacy with the characters (cinéma vérité)
  • Avoiding flashy or stylized camera movements that draw attention to the filmmaking process
• Emphasis on everyday, ordinary situations and characters
  • Focusing on the struggles and triumphs of working-class or marginalized individuals, often underrepresented in mainstream cinema (social realism)
  • Depicting mundane, routine activities and conversations that reflect the reality of daily life
  • Eschewing glamorized or idealized portrayals of life in favor of raw, unvarnished representations
• Natural lighting and authentic locations
  • Shooting on location rather than in studios to capture the essence and atmosphere of real places (location shooting)
  • Utilizing available light sources, such as windows or practical lamps, to create a sense of naturalism
  • Minimizing artificial or dramatic lighting setups that can appear staged or contrived
• Minimal use of non-diegetic elements
  • Avoiding intrusive musical scores or soundtracks that manipulate the audience's emotional response
  • Relying on diegetic sounds and dialogue to create a sense of immediacy and realism
  • Limiting the use of special effects or post-production manipulation to maintain the integrity of the captured footage

Evolution of realist filmmaking

• Origins in post-World War II European cinema
  • Italian Neorealism (1940s-1950s)
    • Films like "Bicycle Thieves" (1948) and "Rome, Open City" (1945) depicted the struggles of working-class Italians in the aftermath of the war
    • Emphasized location shooting, non-professional actors, and socially conscious themes
  • British Free Cinema (1950s)
    • Documentaries and short films focusing on everyday life and social issues, often shot in a raw, improvisational style
    • Influencing the British New Wave of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which tackled working-class subjects with a realist approach
• Cinema verite and direct cinema movements (1960s)
  • French filmmakers like Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin developed techniques for capturing unscripted, spontaneous moments
  • American documentarians like D.A. Pennebaker and Frederick Wiseman adopted observational techniques to chronicle real-life events and people
  • Emphasizing unscripted, spontaneous filmmaking and observational techniques that blurred the lines between fiction and documentary
• Influence on subsequent film movements and styles
  • Dogme 95 in Denmark (1990s)
    • Filmmakers like Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg adhered to strict rules (hand-held cameras, no artificial lighting) to maintain realism and minimize artifice
    • Rejected the perceived excesses and artificiality of mainstream cinema in favor of a stripped-down, authentic approach
  • American independent cinema (1990s-present)
    • Directors like Kelly Reichardt and the Duplass brothers embraced low-budget, naturalistic storytelling and performances
    • Focused on character-driven narratives and intimate, slice-of-life portraits rather than plot-driven spectacle

Impact of realism on audiences

• Heightened sense of authenticity and relatability
  • Allowing viewers to recognize and empathize with characters' experiences, as they mirror real-life struggles and emotions
  • Creating a stronger emotional bond between the audience and the story through the use of naturalistic performances and settings
• Immersive and visceral viewing experience
  • Drawing the audience into the world of the film through naturalistic techniques, such as long takes and handheld camerawork
  • Encouraging active engagement and interpretation rather than passive consumption, as the lack of artifice demands closer attention
• Potential for social commentary and cultural reflection
  • Addressing real-world issues and challenges faced by individuals and communities, often marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream cinema
  • Sparking discussions and debates about societal norms, inequalities, and injustices by presenting them in a raw, unfiltered manner
• Challenging conventional narrative structures and expectations
  • Subverting traditional Hollywood storytelling formulas, which often rely on clear-cut heroes, villains, and resolutions
  • Requiring audiences to adapt to slower pacing, ambiguous resolutions, and unconventional plot developments that mirror the complexities of real life

Notable realist directors and films

• Italian Neorealism
  • Vittorio De Sica
    • "Bicycle Thieves" (1948) - A father and son search for a stolen bicycle in post-war Rome
    • "Umberto D." (1952) - An elderly man struggles to survive on a meager pension in a society that has forgotten him
  • Roberto Rossellini
    • "Rome, Open City" (1945) - Resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Rome face danger and betrayal
    • "Paisan" (1946) - Six vignettes depict the interaction between Italians and American soldiers during the Allied invasion of Italy
• French New Wave
  • Jean-Luc Godard
    • "Breathless" (1960) - A small-time criminal and his American girlfriend go on the run in Paris
    • "Vivre sa vie" (1962) - A young Parisian woman turns to prostitution to make ends meet
  • Agnes Varda
    • "Cleo from 5 to 7" (1962) - A singer wanders through Paris as she awaits the results of a biopsy
    • "Vagabond" (1985) - A young homeless woman drifts through the French countryside, encountering various characters along the way
• British New Wave
  • Tony Richardson
    • "Look Back in Anger" (1959) - An angry young man rebels against the establishment and his own circumstances
    • "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" (1962) - A rebellious youth in a reformatory finds solace in long-distance running
  • Ken Loach
    • "Kes" (1969) - A troubled boy in a working-class community finds purpose in training a kestrel
    • "Raining Stones" (1993) - An unemployed man in Manchester struggles to provide for his family and maintain his dignity
• American Independent Cinema
  • John Cassavetes
    • "Shadows" (1959) - Improvised vignettes explore race relations and identity in Beat-era New York City
    • "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974) - A housewife's mental breakdown puts a strain on her marriage and family
  • Kelly Reichardt
    • "Wendy and Lucy" (2008) - A homeless woman and her dog struggle to survive on the margins of society
    • "Certain Women" (2016) - Three loosely connected stories depict the lives of women in small-town Montana