Children play a prominent role in Italian Neorealism. We will examine the cultural construction of childhood after the World War 2, drawing on the movies of Rossellini, De Sica, Pasolini, Fellini, Benigni, Amelio, Giordana, as well as on the novels of Calvino, Elsa Morante, Gianni Rodari. The course will investigate the issue of childhood exploring the interaction between adult and child characters. We will discuss the relationship between authority and freedom, history and  creativity, tradition and innovation, normalization and difference, experience and innocence. The class will be taught in Italian. The reading material and the bibliographical references will be provided in a course reader. Further material will be presented in class. Requirements include class attendance, preparation, and participation, a series of oral responses, and a final oral presentation.