Paisan (1946) – Filming Locations
Drama / War · Directed by Roberto Rossellini · Starring Carmela Sazio
Six stories unfold in various regions, from Sicily to the northern Po Valley as American military personnel interact with a variety of Italian locals over eighteen months in the push north during the Italian Campaign of WWII as German forces retreat.
Where was Paisan filmed?
- Sicily, Italy, Sicily – American soldiers land on the Sicilian coast during the invasion sequence. The opening segment depicts the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily with authentic footage shot on the actual beaches where the invasion occurred
- Naples, Italy, Naples – American soldiers encounter street children and locals in the bombed-out streets; the story of Joe and the street urchin Pasquale. Rossellini filmed extensively in the heavily damaged post-war streets of Naples, using the actual ruins as a neorealist backdrop for the human stories
- Rome, Italy, Rome – Encounters between American soldiers and Roman civilians; prostitution and survival in post-war Rome. Rome's post-war streets and neighborhoods serve as the setting for the film's exploration of Allied soldiers' interactions with Italian civilians during the liberation
- Florence, Italy, Florence – Partisan activity and military operations; German occupation and Allied liberation. The northern liberation sequences were filmed in Florence, capturing the complex relationship between German soldiers and Italian partisans
- Po Valley, Italy, Po Valley – Final sequence involving American military chaplains and Italian monks; moral and religious reflections on war. The concluding segment was filmed in the Po Valley region, providing a rural contrast to the urban destruction and exploring themes of faith and reconciliation