La Strada

1954

1h 55m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

1.1K

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67 Images

Drama

When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

Directors

Federico Fellini

Writers

Tullio Pinelli(screenplay by)

Federico Fellini(screenplay by)

Tullio Pinelli(dialogue by)

Stars

Giulietta Masina

Anthony Quinn

Richard Basehart

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Videos4

Photos67

Top cast

Gelsomina

Zampanò

Il 'Matto'

Il Signor Giraffa

La Vedova

La Suorina

Innkeeper (uncredited)

Giovanna Galli

Prostitute at the Inn (uncredited)

Gustavo Giorgi

(uncredited)

Yami Kamadeva

Prostitute (uncredited)

Mario Passante

Waiter (uncredited)

Anna Primula

Gelsomina's Mother (uncredited)

Alexandre Trannoy

Juggler (uncredited)

Goffredo Unger

Man Restraining Zampano from Attacking (uncredited)

Nazzareno Zamperla

Man Restraining Zampano from Attacking (uncredited)

Arnoldo Foà

Zampanò (Voice) (Uncredited)

Directors

Federico Fellini

Writers

Tullio Pinelli(screenplay by)

Federico Fellini(screenplay by)

Tullio Pinelli(dialogue by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

Anthony Quinn is nigh on perfect for the "Zampanò" role here. He is a travelling strongman who buys "Gelsomina" (Giulietta Masina) from her mother for a pretty paltry sum and some food. She's none-too-pleased with her new, nomadic, life and he is not exactly the ideal companion. In fact, he's a bit of a thug! She's no shrinking violet, though, and after some failed attempts at escape, determines that this is her new life and that she is going to make the best of things. Might she even end up enjoying this life? Enter the nimble and agile tight-rope walker rather unkindly referred to as "The Fool" (Richard Basehart) whom she befriends, and he starts to open her eyes to another, hitherto unconsidered, possibility about the bullish "Zampanò" and the rationale behind his behaviour towards her. Fellini really does know how to let his stars shine here, and the photography - especially of the visually expressive and engaging Masina works really well with this simple but never straightforward drama. She presents us with a portrayal of a woman of character and as the plot thickens, the delivery of her relationship with the very much on-form Quinn becomes quite compelling to watch. Set amidst the debris of post-war Italy it also reminds us of just how society was struggling to get back onto it's feet, and to move on - even if the largely rural communities featured here had little, if any, prospects of seeing any improvements. The circus isn't a way to riches and comfort - it's rudimentary entertainment for a population that needs momentary distraction and it must travel continuously just to keep the proverbial wolf from it's door. That relentlessness provides us with the potent vehicle for an interesting character study that contrasts the strength and brutishness of one with the subtlety of the others and it looks great too.

Geronimo196720 Mar, 2024