Le Notti di Cabiria (1957, Federico Fellini)
Wow. Giulietta Masina gives one of the best performances I have ever seen in this movie. Her face is so expressive, and she gets all the feelings across with pitch-perfect subtlety.
But I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. This movie is about Maria ‘Cabiria’ Ceccarelli (Masina), a prostitute in Rome. She so desperately wants to find true love, so wanders the streets in search of a man who will love her for who she is. Along the way, she meets all kinds of characters, men and women, who both enrich her life and are unkind to her.
Cabiria is a very tragic figure, but in a heart-warming, cheerful kind of way. She doesn’t let life get her down, but makes friends constantly, and never gives up.
I am very impressed with Fellini here, something I didn’t think was ever going to happen. He has composed some great shots here, and the film looks gorgeous (then again, which film set in Rome doesn’t?).
I won’t go into too much detail, for while the plot is simple, it’s one you’d do best to experience for yourself. It’s a tragic story, with one of the best performances I have ever seen. Why Masina wasn’t a bigger international star I’ll never understand.
Just do yourself a favour and rent this movie.
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