La Strada - A Heartbreaking Italian Noir

 

La Strada is a beautiful, sad, heartbreaking Italian film. Poor Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a droopy-eyed waif, is servant and punching bag for mean brute Zampano (Anthony Quinn), until his cruel actions lead them both to tragedy.

And then there's The Fool (Richard Basehart), a circus high-wire performer who thinks even the tiniest pebble has a purpose. 

If you have the chance to see La Strada you should take it, if only to observe the art of great filmmaking. It reveals the darkness and the light that resides in the human soul.

If I could write one script a third as good as La Strada I'd be the happiest writer on Earth!