This episode of Bits and Bites on Italian Cinema... and Other Stuff marks the 80th anniversary of Roma Città Aperta, Roberto Rossellini’s groundbreaking 1945 film that helped launch Italian Neorealism. Through the lens of history, cinema, and personal memory, the episode explores the film’s impact and the movement it sparked—one rooted in realism, social truth, and postwar struggle. With on-location shooting, nonprofessional actors, and raw emotion, Neorealism redefined storytelling and forever changed the cinematic landscape. This episode reflects on how Roma Città Aperta became a cultural milestone and why its relevance endures eight decades later.