The neorealist masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica follows an elderly pensioner as he strives to make ends meet during Italy’s postwar economic recovery. Alone except for his dog, Flike, Umberto struggles to maintain his dignity in a city where human kindness seems to have been swallowed up by the forces of modernization. His simple quest to satisfy his basic needs—food, shelter, companionship makes for one of the most heartbreaking stories ever filmed, and an essential classic of world cinema.
About the film
Details
- Running time
- 1 hr. 31 min.
- Country, year
- Italy, 1952
- Genre
- Drama
- Language
- Italian
- Subtitles
- English, Lithuanian
- Age rating
- Pegi 13
Credits
- Director
- Vittorio De Sica
- Screenplay
- Cesare Zavattini
- Producers
- G. R. Aldo (Aldo Graziati)
- Cinematography
- G. R. Aldo (Aldo Graziati)
- Music
- Alessandro Cicognini
- Cast
- Carlo Battisti, Maria Pia Casillo, Lina Gennari
Festivals and awards
- Pagrindinė konkursinė programa
Director
Vittorio De Sica
Best known for the 1948 film The Bicycle Thieves, Vittorio de Sica directed more than 40 films, starred in more than 150 and gained critical recognition in both these roles. From the light-hearted, fluffy comedies to more arresting subjects in the wake of WWII and later mainstream endeavours, his works were instrumental in the forming of the canon of post war Italian cinema, their influence still being felt decades later.
