Product Details

• Actors: Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Raf Vallone, Eleonora Brown, Carlo Ninchi
• Directors: Vittorio De Sica
• Writers: Vittorio De Sica, Alberto Moravia, Cesare Zavattini
• Producers: Carlo Ponti, Joseph E. Levine
• Format: Black & White, EP, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: German, Italian
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Madacy Records
• VHS Release Date: September 19, 1997
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303934315
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,436 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Sophia Loren won a much-deserved Academy Award for her performance in this 1960 classic by neo-realist filmmaker Vittorio de Sica. A last-minute substitute for Anna Magnani, Loren reached deep within her own memories of wartime experiences for her portrait of a widow struggling to survive in battle-scarred Italy along with a teenage daughter (Eleonora Brown). The film begins with both women sharing romantic feelings toward a young man (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a story line disrupted by the ravages of World War II and the horrifying rape of both mother and daughter in a church by Allied Moroccan soldiers. The aftermath of this atrocity finds both characters dealing with even more, varying shades of grief, as the war seems to sap all that they had treasured and leaves them with only the bare bones of their emotional and physical survival. De Sica's capacity to render tragedy both with the starkest of strokes and the most delicate of emotions has never been more impressive than in this film, and Loren's shatteringly honest portrayal is a watershed in movie history. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Film...An Unacceptable Video Transfer, May 4, 2003

By 

A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Women (DVD)

'Two Women' is a stark film from the neo-realism school that still packs a solid punch. Sophia Loren plays a beautiful widow who seeks to protect her teenage daughter from the ravages of World War II Rome. She's proud, opinionated, but protective and loving toward her daughter Rosetta. The two women flee to the widow's village, where they meet an idealistic young man to whom they are both attracted. The tragic events occur quite late in the film, but by the time they do, we really know who these characters are, making the film extremely powerful.

Loren looks stunning and acts wonderfully, but all the actors in the film are wonderful as well. But Loren had (and still has) that quality that makes her the center of all attention every time she is on-screen. A stunning actress in a stunning role.

I cannot finish this review without commenting on the abysmal video transfer to DVD. This is without a doubt the worst looking and sounding DVD I have ever seen since the medium was invented. I wish Sophia Loren would sue this video company for the travesty they have done to this fine film. How in the world with all the technology at our disposal can such a poor product be released on the market? I only hope a proper version can be released soon. This is criminal.

99 minutes

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy - EXTREMELY poor quality recording, December 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Two Women (La Ciociara) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The film and Sofia Loren's performance are 5 stars. The video quality is 0 stars. I expected less than perfect quality based on the previous reviews, but thought I would take a chance for 4.99. Sorry I did - I was unprepared for just how bad this is. Faces are just blurs. It doesn't track right in my VCR. It was poorly recorded in EP mode. What a waste - this film deserves better. Don't buy this - the "Madacy Music Group Inc." manufactured and distributed this video and don't deserve the profits. Included with the video is a brochure of other "Hollywood Classics" they have given this poor treatment. There is no excuse for this.

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "..and just a little bit for Rosetta.", September 11, 2002

By 

Rick D. Barszcz (bristol, ct United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Women (DVD)

Acting doesn't get any better than if your watching a Sophia Loren film. She's beautiful, smart, witty and one of the greatest actress ever to grace the motion picture screen.This movie is very serious drama with some light moments but you'll see termendious acting by everyone. This is a rare reminder of the terror of World War II, the stuggles, the hardship that people had to endure.My only problem with the DVD is the audio. I don't want to discourage anyone from buying this great motion picture but the sound is TERRIBLE. I don't understand how the studio could let something like this be sold with such a terrible audio track. It's scratchy and tinny in sound. Other than that the picture quality if pretty good but is still worth owning. It's a great Italian movie.