La ciociara (1960)

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Alberto Moravia (novel)
Cesare Zavattini (adaptation)

Release Date:

9 May 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Cesira and her 13-year-old daughter, Rosetta, flee from the allied bombs in Rome during the second world war...

Plot Keywords:

Church | Soldier | Mother Daughter Relationship | Reference To Michelangelo | Allied Forces

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Two Women (UK) (USA)
Paysanne aux pieds nus (France)
The Woman from Ciociara (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (original rating) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (re-rating on appeal) | Australia:M | UK:15 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Itri, Latina, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Trivia:

It has been said that Anna Magnani was originally cast in the role of Cesira, but when she was unable commit to the film due to illness, it was Magnani herself who suggested Sophia Loren for the role, suggesting to director Vittorio De Sica that if Loren (who was 25 years old at the time) would not mind playing a mother with an adolescent daughter, then the role should go to her.

Quotes:

Cesira: Do you know what they have done those "heroes" that you command? Do you know what your great soldiers have done in a holy church under the eyes of the madonna? Do you know?
American Soldier: Peace, peace.
Cesira: Yes, peace, beautful peace! You ruined my little daughter forever! Now she's worse than dead. No, I'm not mad, I'm not mad! Look at her! And tell me if I am mad! Rotten crazy bastards!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Breach (2007)

A magnificent film about how human bonds redeem us from ourselves

I gave this film 9/10 while understanding its weaknesses. First, as others note, the print is the worst I've ever encountered sometimes turning faces into gray pudding, but the problem was not so great to keep me from responding fully to the film's power, and I decided to evaluate the film rather than the print. I have more serious concerns about events at the film's climax which raise issues which are resolved too quickly. In fact these issues might be the subject of a whole new film, and if treated here they would require another hour of play time. The films hasty resolution of these issues makes important behaviors seem poorly motivated and unbelievable. However, the issues in question are not the central issues of the movie. When Cesira apologizes to her daughter (and at other points) I was left sobbing in spite of the film's failure to properly address the daughter's final trauma. This is not a about recovering from trauma. Rather, it is a film about human fallibility and self-deception or, as Michele puts it, "You can't escape, not even from yourself." Cesira faults others while never examining her own behavior. Like those around her, she acts only to preserve her own immediate interests. At the other extreme. Michele's idealism prevents him from realizing his own humanity. Only Rosetta demonstrates the purity to see beyond self-interest, and the instinct to truly tell right from wrong. Her downfall is the tragedy of the film. Yet through all of this the film shows us how, when pushed to extremes, these people are capable of forging deep human bonds. Such bonds have the power to redeem all as they finally redeem Rosetta. I can't conclude without adding my own appreciation for Sophia Loren's extraordinary performance.