La Strada (1954)

A care-free girl is sold to a traveling entertainer, consequently enduring physical and emotional pain along the way.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story and screenplay), Tullio Pinelli (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart

Won 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anthony Quinn	...	Zampanò
Giulietta Masina	...	Gelsomina
Richard Basehart	...	The Fool
Aldo Silvani	...	Giraffa
Marcella Rovere	...	Widow
Livia Venturini	...	Nun

Storyline

Sad story of a waif, Gelsomina, who is sold by her mother to Zampano for 10,000 lire and a few kilos of food. Zampano is a traveling showman who exhibits feats of strength by breaking a chain wrapped around his chest. He performs in village squares and then passes the hat for whatever the normally small crowd is prepared to give. He teaches Gelsomina a drum roll as part of his introduction. He doesn't treat her well and when she tries to run away, he beats her. They eventually join a small traveling circus where they meet a tight-rope walker who convinces Gelsomina to question her choices.

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Plot Keywords:

drunkenness | innocence | 1950s | whiteface clown | apprenticeship | 

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Taglines:

You've been hearing about a great picture called La Strada (The Road)...now it is here!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

16 July 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Road

Filming Locations:

Via Corinto, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,674

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Very early on in the filming process, Giulietta Masina suffered a severe ankle sprain. This was potentially quite a serious setback since the film's financial backing was tenuous and producers had initially objected to Masina's casting. The injury stalled production for several weeks and led to a scheduling conflict for Anthony Quinn who had signed on to play the title role in Attila (1954). In an exceptionally gracious move, Quinn offered to continue working on this film to spare the production any further setbacks. He endured a grueling schedule, working for this film in the mornings and filming Attila during the evenings.

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Goofs

When Gelsomina leaves Zampanò, she walks by the road and sits down on the roadside near a small group of trees (about 4-5 m away). When the trio of musicians marches past, she appears to have moved back down the road as the height and appearance of the roadside behind her have changed and it takes the musicians, with Gelsomina following, some time to reach the point where the trees are.

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Quotes

The Fool: If you won't stay with him, who will? I'm an ignorant man, but I've read a book or two. You may not believe it, but everything in this world has a purpose. Even this pebble, for example.
Gelsomina: Which one?
The Fool: This one. Any one. But even this one has a purpose.
Gelsomina: What's its purpose?
The Fool: Its purpose is - how should I know? If I knew, I'd be...
Gelsomina: Who?
The Fool: The Almighty, who knows everything. When you're born. When you die. Who knows? No, I don't know what this pebble's purpose is, but it must have one, because if this ...

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Alternate Versions

The German theatrical version was cut by about 6 minutes to speed up the films pacing. DVD release also contains the Italian uncut version as a bonus feature.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Swordfish/Bride of the Wind/Atlantis: The Lost Empire/Evolution/Divided We Fall (2001)

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Soundtracks

Down a Lonely Road
(1954) (uncredited)
Music by Nino Rota and Michele Galdieri
Published by Leeds

User Reviews

Pure, surreal, a treat for the mind and heart

Often it is hard to find a romance which does not include actual romance - i.e. - liplock, hugging scenes. The viewer is overflowed with emotion because the film itself focuses on human emotion, and is a pure amusement to watch because of the many symbols. When Zampano tries to steal a silver heart from the church and Gelsomina pleads with him not to, we can only think of the cold silver heart, his sad action of trying to "steal" such an emotion as "love", Gelsomina's soft nature - this film overflows with such subtleties, but such subtleties! so impactful in conveying emotion..

Gelsomina's faith to Zampano is heartwrenching - she is presented with opportunities to leave Zampano, such as leaving to the nunnery or joining the circus, but she declines all. This fidelity builds up, only to have.. well, let's just say that Fellini is especially skillful in drawing your sympathy and then channeling for it in a single scene.. he knows how to focus and concentrate your emotion, I felt sort of violated after watching the film, since I rarely cry for movies! Also, if the symbolism does not stir a reader to interest, the amazing cinematography will. The tightrope act atop the city buildings, the motorbike rides, the Christ ceremony-

This movie is unpredictable and is interesting to watch, since it keeps the mind afloat with the different scenes which are packed with symbols and metaphors, wonderful puzzles to decipher. Since Fellini does not present it straight-forwardly, and rather wraps meaning in several layers of symbols, uncovering the truth becomes fulfilling for the viewer.

The way Fellini develops his characters is unforgettable. We feel their demise, but urge to see and understand more. I feel only Fellini can accomplish such a remarkable quality. And in case you didn't get the gist of my rating (and my ranting).. 4 stars. Please rent this and enjoy, Fellini's incredible! :o)