Obsession

film by Visconti [1942]

Also known as: “Obsessione”

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July 1, 2026

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Ossessione (1942), directed by Luchino Visconti, is an Italian film that adapted James M. Cain's novel The Postman Always Rings Twice. It is considered a precursor to the Italian Neorealism movement.1

Visconti utilized natural settings, blended professional actors with local residents, and employed innovative camera techniques, including hidden cameras, to achieve a sense of authenticity. This realistic approach, focusing on individuals caught in societal conflicts, significantly influenced post-World War II Italian filmmaking. The film's raw portrayal of its subject matter marked a departure from traditional filmmaking and contributed to the rise of Neorealism, a movement that sought to depict contemporary life and social issues realistically.12

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History of film
Italy
>Obsession), a bleak contemporary melodrama shot on location in the countryside around Ferrara. It was suppressed by the fascist censors, however, so international audiences were first introduced to the movement through Roberto Rossellini’s Roma, città aperta (1945; Open City), which was shot on location in…
Read More
>Obsession), a bleak contemporary melodrama shot on location in the countryside around Ferrara. It was suppressed by the fascist censors, however, so international audiences were first introduced to the movement through Roberto Rossellini’s Roma, città aperta (1945; Open City), which was shot on location in…
Read More