Two Women (1960)
"La ciociara" (original title)

Cesira and her 13-year-old daughter, Rosetta, flee from the allied bombs in Rome during the second world war. They travel to the village where Cesira was born. During their journey and in ... See full summary »

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Alberto Moravia (novel), Cesare Zavattini (adaptation),

Stars:

Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Eleonora Brown

Won 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophia Loren	...	Cesira
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	Michele Di Libero (as Jean Paul Belmondo)
Eleonora Brown	...	Rosetta
Carlo Ninchi	...	Filippo, il padre di Michele
Andrea Checchi	...	Un fascista
Pupella Maggio	...	Una contadina
Emma Baron	...	Maria
Bruna Cealti	...	Una sfollata
Antonella Della Porta	...	La madre impazzita
Mario Frera
Franco Balducci	...	Il tedesco nel pagliaio
Luciana Cortellesi
Curt Lowens
Tony Calio	...	(as Tony Caliò)
Remo Galavotti

Storyline

Cesira and her 13-year-old daughter, Rosetta, flee from the allied bombs in Rome during the second world war. They travel to the village where Cesira was born. During their journey and in the village, the mother does everything to protect Rosetta. However, on one occasion they both get raped by soldiers hiding in a church. This cruel event is too much for the always powerful fighting Cesira and she suffers from a breakdown. During their stay in the village, a young intellectual, Michele falls in love with Cesira who does not know how to reply to the advances of such a gentleman.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | church | 1940s | central italy | south italy | 

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Taglines:

Suddenly...Love Becomes Lust...Innocence becomes shame...As two women are trapped by violent passion and unforgettable terror!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian German

Release Date:

9 May 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Two Women

Filming Locations:

Via Dormigliosa, Sermoneta, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, Cocinor, Les Films Marceau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa #33469 delivered on 26 November 1960.

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Goofs

Near the beginning of the film Cesira and Rosetta choose to walk rather than wait aboard their stranded train. However they set off in the opposite direction to the train's destination.

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Quotes

English Soldier: There are lots of good things in Italy.
Michele Di Libero: You don't know Italy.
English Soldier: Oh, we know Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo.
Michele Di Libero: They are dead.

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Connections

Featured in Biography: Sophia Loren: Actress Italian Style (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Vivere"
Written by Cesare A. Bixio

User Reviews

Gut-wrenching performance by leads

I acquired this movie quite a few years a go and only just had my first viewing and was frankly astonished at Sophia's performance. It is a multi-layered rich performance: her anger at men, her absolute devotion to her daughter, the sadness and acceptance at being a widow of a passionless marriage to a much older man, her confusion at awakening feelings of sensuality, her politicization. The last 30 minutes of this movie are heartbreaking, her horror, helplessness and numbness at what has happened to her daughter are some of the most powerful moments I have seen on film. A well deserved Oscar and Sophia, you are right up there with the gifted actors of the past century! 10 out of 10.