Umberto D. (1952)

Synopsis: The Italian classic UMBERTO D., from director Vittorio De Sica, offers a realistic character sketch of an elderly man, Umberto D. (Carlo Battisti), who is determined to retain his dignity in spite of a meager pension. As with many of De... The Italian classic UMBERTO D., from director Vittorio De Sica, offers a realistic character sketch of an elderly man, Umberto D. (Carlo Battisti), who is determined to retain his dignity in spite of a meager pension. As with many of De Sica's Neo-realist films, the central struggle is existence--Umberto D.'s pension is simply too small a sum to cover his rent. Joining forces with fellow pensioners, the men stage a protest that is ignored. Umberto attempts and fails to sell his meager belongings when he falls ill. After he returns from hospitalization for the illness, he makes an effort to beg on the street, but is foiled by his own pride. Hitting rock bottom, Umberto decides to kill himself as soon as he can find a new home for his beloved dog, Flag. When he fails to find a home for the dog, Umberto attempts to take the dog with him to the great beyond. In UMBERTO D., De Sica depicts the bleakness of life with unparalleled subtlety and craftsmanship. Deep focus photography details Umberto's isolation, while pointing out that countless other elderly poor people live in similar conditions. De Sica uses sound and music deftly to portray Umberto's subjective feelings and decisions. While many of De Sica's films achieved enormous critical acclaim, UMBERTO D. is often considered as the director's finest work. [More]

Starring: Carlo Battisi, Maria Pia Casilio, Lina Genneri, Ileana Simova

Starring: Carlo Battisi, Maria Pia Casilio, Lina Genneri, Ileana Simova, Alberto Albani Barbieri

Director: Vittorio De Sica

Director: Vittorio De Sica

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