Three films from Vittorio De Sica.
About the Director:
Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. As one of the world's most influential filmmakers, and as an actor who starred in some 150 movies, Vittorio De Sica built a remarkable film career that spanned half a century. De Sica directed 34 feature films, for which he won numerous international prizes. He was honored with four Academy Awards: two Special Awards, preceding the creation of the Best Foreign Film category, for "Shoeshine" in 1947, and "The Bicycle Thief" in 1949, and Best Foreign Film Awards for "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" in 1964, and The Garden of the Finzi-Continis in 1971.
Nominated for Oscar. Another 23 wins & 9 nominations
Movie Details:
1. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Directed by Vittorio De Sica. Starring Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola.
A man and his son search for a stolen bicycle vital for his job.
2. Children are Watching Us (1944)
Directed by Vittorio De Sica. Starring Emilio Cigoli, Luciano De Ambrosis.
The film follows a four-year old boy named Prico as he becomes the subject of emotional folly by his fluctuant parents and inattentive relatives.
3. Shoeshine (1946)
Directed by Vittorio De Sica. Starring Rinaldo Smordoni.
At a track near Rome, shoeshine boys are watching horses run. Two of the boys Pasquale, an orphan, and Giuseppe, his younger friend are riding. The pair have been saving to buy a horse of their own to ride... The boys meet Attilio, Giuse's much older brother, and his shady friend at a boat on the Tiber. In return for a commission, the boys agree to deliver black market goods to a fortune-teller. Once the woman has paid, Attilio's gang suddenly arrives. Pretending to be cops, they shake the woman down. With a payoff from Attilio, the boys are able to make the final payment and stable their horse in Trastevere over the river... The fortune-teller identifies Pasqua and Giuse. Held at an overcrowded boys' prison, they are separated. Giuse falls under the influence of an older lad in his cell, Arcangeli. During interrogation, Pasqua is tricked into betraying Giuse's brother to the police. With their trial still in the future, the two friends are driven further apart...
