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• Region: All Regions
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B0009X4ADG
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peregrination thru the Pitiless Roads of Italy., December 18, 2007

By 

Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: La Strada (Import, all region DVD) (DVD)

I recently reviewed a couple of Fellini's films and decided to perform a huge retrospective of his production. So here I am reviewing his first great impact: "La Strada" (1954).
Since his earlier works, "La Dolce Vita" (1960) and the present movie thru "Fellini Satyricon" (1969) and "Amarcord" (1973) till his lasts "Ginger and Fred" (1986) and "The Voice of the Moon" (1990) Fellini has left a legacy treasure for film lovers and film makers.

Most of his films combine fantasy and reality in a rich mixture with no fixed boundaries. He displays his own personal conflicts in regard to religious belief; sex and love; youngsters' education; political and religious power; richness and poverty; all this themes and more are shown with a visceral approach.
The viewer will be attracted and repelled alternatively and at the end of each of his movies will go out of the theater (or the bed room or living-room) knowing that he/she has assisted to a unique piece of art show.

"La Strada" (The Road 1954) is still a constituent of the Italian "Neorealist" film school, showing the poorest places of Italy and its population. The influence of this movement will always emerge in Fellini's movies one way or the other.
Gelsomina is a poor dumb girl living at the sea shore when Zampano shows up "buying" her from her mother. She's engaged to replace her sister Rosa, dead at Zampano's service.
A peregrinate thru Italy's roads stopping at small towns' outskirts starts. Zampano performs his "chain braking" act while Gelsomina sounds the drum and collect contributions from the public.
A pitiful universe of "roads artists" is displayed in front of her uncomprehending eyes. She waits for Zampano's return time after time shivering at the edge of the road. Faithfully follows him disregarding offers from sympathetic souls to get away from the ogre. Finally tragedy traverses the screen piercing deeply into spectator's sensibility.

This is a stark film showing the deep sinews of human soul with unflinching stare. Yet as in all Fellini's creations there is compassionate regard toward these poor beings.

The film delivers superb acting pieces from Giulietta Masina and Anthony Quinn.
It is a sorrowful yet marvelous film to see!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.