The Path of Hope (1950)

The story of a group of Sicilian miners and their families decide to illegally cross the border to France and their hardships.

Director:

Pietro Germi

Writers:

Nino Di Maria (novel), Federico Fellini (story)

Stars:

Raf Vallone, Elena Varzi, Saro Urzì

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Raf Vallone	...	Saro Cammarata
Elena Varzi	...	Barbara Spadaro
Saro Urzì	...	Ciccio Ingaggiatore
Franco Navarra	...	Vanni
Liliana Lattanzi	...	Rosa
Mirella Ciotti	...	Lorenza
Saro Arcidiacono	...	Carmelo Musco
Francesco Tomalillo	...	Misciu (as Francesco Tomolillo)
Paolo Reale	...	Brasi
Giuseppe Priolo	...	Luca
Renato Terra	...	Mommino
Carmela Trovato	...	Cirmena
Angelo Grasso	...	Antonio
Assunta Radico	...	Beatificata
Francesca Russella	...	Grandmother

Storyline

Women wait anxiously at a minehead in Capodarso, Sicily. Their men are underground. The mine is closing and the miners refuse to come up unless the owner relents. After three days, they give up in despair... In a bar in town, Ciccio is recruiting workers for jobs in France. He can get people over the border - for L20,000 a head. Enough people to fill a bus sell their belongings to pay the fee, including Saro and his 3 young children, and Barbara and her man Vanni, in trouble with the law and desperate to flee Italy. After reaching Naples by train, Ciccio tries to slip away but is grabbed by Vanni. Vanni tells Barbara where to meet at the border if anything should go wrong. In Rome, Ciccio points out Vanni to the police. In the shoot-out, both Vanni and Ciccio escape. The others are arrested. They are ordered by the police to return to Sicily or be charged with "illegal expatriation". With Saro as leader, and nearly out of money, they head north instead. Hardship draws Saro and Barbara...

---

Plot Keywords:

italy | border | sicily | miner | italian neorealism | 

---

Taglines:

Realistic! Soul Stirring! Heart-Warming!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama

---

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa #8697 dated 11 October1950.

---

Connections

Referenced in L'uomo dal sigaro in bocca (1997)

User Reviews

Hope springs eternal.

This is a powerful, monumental film 'inspired' by a novel of Nino di Maria with screenplay by Fellini, Pinelli and Pietro Germi who directs. Cinematographer Leonida Barboni has captured incredible images, both scenically and facially whilst Carlo Rustichelli has contributed one of his best scores. The burgeoning relationship between Saro and Barbera played by husband and wife team Raf Vallone and Elena Varzi is beautifully and sensitively handled. The final scene of the 'illegal' immigrants being intercepted in the snow by Franco-Italian customs officials is unforgettable. Not for nothing is this film named as one of the '100 Italian films to be saved' as it has majesty, vigour, character and humanity. Perhaps because it was released when people no longer wished to be reminded of economic hardship and were looking ahead to a brighter, more prosperous future, this film was not much lauded at the time although it did at least win the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film festival. One of Germi's best. Undeservedly neglected.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

22 November 1950 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Path of Hope

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1