Review of Shoeshine (1987) by Art S — 29 Jun 2012

De Sica's brand of Italian Neo-Realism hardly seems naturalistic these days with its well planned shots, scripted melodramatic action, and occasionally intrusive music. But viewed as an artistic creation rather than a glimpse at how Italy really was (which it may still capture through location shooting), Shoeshine still has the power to tug at the heartstrings.

Here we see two young boys caught up in the poverty of the post-war period and thrown into a juvenile jail. It gets worse from there, as their loyalty is tested through a number of trials. Perhaps, in fact, it is all too much.