For longtime readers of this site, they know my love affair with Federico Fellini's films, especially his early work. The director, best known for 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita created so many cinematic gems in his early days. Fellini, who started off as a writer for fellow Italian Neo-Realism director Roberto Rossellini, got his directing chops from being not only Rossellini's writer but Assistant Director as well. As his career in directing started off, it rocketed with La Strada. Set in post World War II southern Italy, like most of Fellini's early work and during that neo-realism period, La Strada tells the story of a young girl (Giulietta Masina) who is sold by her family to an abusive traveling circus performer played by Latin actor Anthony Quinn. As the young girl admires the strong and cunning Zampano (Quinn), the abuse he lays on to her proves to be no effect as all she wants in life is love. As they travel down the road of life together, we see the two of them get close and fall apart due to jealousy and betrayal. Winner of the 1956 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, La Strada is a timeless epic that will have you going back for more.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Movie of the Month - La Strada
For longtime readers of this site, they know my love affair with Federico Fellini's films, especially his early work. The director, best known for 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita created so many cinematic gems in his early days. Fellini, who started off as a writer for fellow Italian Neo-Realism director Roberto Rossellini, got his directing chops from being not only Rossellini's writer but Assistant Director as well. As his career in directing started off, it rocketed with La Strada. Set in post World War II southern Italy, like most of Fellini's early work and during that neo-realism period, La Strada tells the story of a young girl (Giulietta Masina) who is sold by her family to an abusive traveling circus performer played by Latin actor Anthony Quinn. As the young girl admires the strong and cunning Zampano (Quinn), the abuse he lays on to her proves to be no effect as all she wants in life is love. As they travel down the road of life together, we see the two of them get close and fall apart due to jealousy and betrayal. Winner of the 1956 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, La Strada is a timeless epic that will have you going back for more.