Italy / France,
1960, 100 min
Directed by:
Vittorio De SicaScreenplay:
Cesare ZavattiniCinematography:
Gábor PogányComposer:
Armando TrovajoliCast:
Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Eleonora Brown, Pupella Maggio, Raf Vallone, Vincenzo Musolino, Renato Salvatori, Carlo Ninchi, Emma Baron, Luciano Pigozzi (more)Plots(1)
Cesira and her 13-year-old daughter, Rosetta, flee from the allied bombs in Rome during the second world war. They travel to the village where Cesira was born. During their journey and in the village, the mother does everything to protect Rosetta. However, on one occasion they both get raped by soldiers hiding in a church. This cruel event is too much for the always powerful fighting Cesira and she suffers from a breakdown. During their stay in the village, a young intellectual, Michele falls in love with Cesira who does not know how to reply to the advances of such a gentleman. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1962 - Sophia Loren (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1962 - Sophia Loren (Best Leading Actress)
Golden Globes
- 1962 - Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1961 - Sophia Loren (Best Actress)
- 1961 - Best Foreign Language Film
Cannes Film Festival
- 1961 - Sophia Loren (Best Actress)
- 1961 - Vittorio De Sica (Golden Palm - Official Competition)