La Strada [Blu-ray] [1954]

Why did remastering not improve the legiblity of the subtitles? Never mind, it's still great.

It is one of the greatest films. Spare, to the point, beautiful, sad, realistic, sympathetic, socially perceptive, warm

La Strada - Italian existentialism a la Ibsen. Federico Fellini's "La Strada", the way I look at it, is not about the character and protagonista Gelsomina, beautifully played by Giulietta Massina, as much as it is about Zampanó (Anthony Quinn). Federico Fellini asks a fundamental question: is Gelsomina's literally self-annihilating love enough to save the brute Zampanó who never loved anybody but himself? Even in the closing scene, senselessly drunk on the beach at sunrise, Zampanó cries out: "I need nobody!", whereupon the sun rises. Light floods the scene, is it the rays of love, the light of hope, we don't know. Fellini, well versed in classic existentialism; literature, theater and drama, e.g. in Ibsen, Kierkegaard, Strindberg, and others, refers here, I think, to the final scene in Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt". Peer's lifelong self-love is juxtaposed against Solveig's lifelong and unselfish love for Peer who finally sees, but maybe still does not fully understand. Thus, when the last scene fades out, or rather: the curtain falls for the last time, Zampanó's fate and Peer's is still pending decision, namely: Zampanó's (or Peer's) own decision". I strongly recommend this film, it is arguably (one of) the best film(s) ever.

It's a great great movie, But the picture wasn't as sharp as it could have been. I have seen a sharper version.

This is a vivid film about a damaged young lady who is essentially sold like a slave to a wandering carney performer, played by Anthony Quinn. His act is to wrap himself in a chain and, expanding his chest, burst the iron fastening hook. He too is a damaged person, an alcoholic full of rage and clueless about how to get through life except by force and threat. While he is a callous brute with too much to prove, he also comes across as a pathetically lonely character. Though he mistreats his slave helper, he also cares for her, perhaps even loving her but unable to do anything to win her love except via his control, This is a drama masterpiece on a human scale, typical of Italian neo-realism. It shows the emergence of Fellini's talent as a storyteller. Warmly recommended.

A very nice visual film but only English subtitles so having to read going along, excellent cast.

As described and arrived promptly.

One of the best films from the fifties, a true masterpiece. Won the first Oscar for the Foreign Language Film in 1957. Even when I saw it as a teenager at the premiere, it made a big impression on me. The main theme, composed by the great Nino Rota, is unforgettable. The A/V presentation of this Blu ray is very good.