Italian Neorealism refers to a cinematic movement that dealt with the difficult economic and moral conditions of the poor and working class in post-World War two Italy. This style of film portrayed everyday life in an almost documentarian fashion, using real sets and non-professional actors that inspired the French New Wave and Cinema Verite movements years after.

These techniques sought to bring a sense of authenticity to the films, and were sometimes a necessity since movie sets were destroyed during the war. The filmmakers used their films as a socialist critique of fascism, with special emphasis on children as a metaphor for a hopeful future during a dismal era.