Italian neo-realism emerged after World War II as directors sought to portray social and political themes in a realistic style without censorship from Mussolini's fascist regime. Directors like Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Luchino Visconti focused on location shooting and the lives of ordinary people to show the hardships of postwar Italy. While neo-realists aimed for authenticity, their techniques were not entirely realistic and the movement represented a particular cinematic style rather than strict realism.