Dov'è la libertà...? (1954)

A barber, murderer because of jealousy, spends twenty years in jail. He cannot, however adjust himself to a changed world and to the hypocracy of his own relatives and decides to return ... See full summary »

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Vitaliano Brancati, Ennio Flaiano,

Stars:

Totò, Vera Molnar, Nyta Dover

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Totò	...	Salvatore Lojacono
Vera Molnar	...	Agnese
Nyta Dover	...	La ragazza della maratona di ballo (as Nita Dover)
Franca Faldini	...	Maria
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Abramo Piperno
Giacomo Rondinella	...	Un carcerato cantore
Vincenzo Talarico	...	L'avvocato difensore
Fernando Milani	...	Otello Torquati
Andrea Compagnoni	...	Nandino Torquati
Giacomo Gabrielli	...	Torquato Torquati
Thea Zubin	...	Thea, la cameriera
Ines Florentini	...	Amalia Torquatti
Ines Targas	...	La campiona di maratona di ballo
Fred	...	Campione di maratona di ballo
Aronne	...	Campione di maratona di ballo

Storyline

A barber, murderer because of jealousy, spends twenty years in jail. He cannot, however adjust himself to a changed world and to the hypocracy of his own relatives and decides to return behind bars.

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Plot Keywords:

question in title

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

25 February 1954 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Where Is Freedom?

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Film, Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Life can be a dream in prison but a nightmare when you get out...

"Neorealist" comedy from Rossellini with the unimitable Toto as a barber who has a hard time adjusting back to society after serving 22 years in prison for a crime of passion.

What's great about this film is the strong theme behind the story. When you're locked away for a long time the real world becomes a dreamlike vision of a paradise. Paradoxically, the world can be the least tolerant place to those just released from prison.

Toto's comedy works wonderfully to create a man that experiences this disillusionment even up to the point where the very reasons he had for the crime of passion 22 years ago are questioned.

It's not a masterpiece: some sequences are included for no apparent reason and add nothing to the film, but a good idea, great casting (especially minor parts), good use of dramatic or realistic elements to make the comedy parts seem less "sweet" and, of course, the great Toto make watching this one worth your while.