Review of Umberto D. (1952) by Ld P — 16 Jan 2010

Umberto D 1952 Directed by Vittorio De La Sica. Vittorio de Sica made many very commercial movies in Italy in the 1930s & 40s as the leading Fascist-era matinee idol. He then went into directing. Much has been written about this landmark masterpiece from him.

There aren't many serious films about aging. I first saw it as a young man in college in 1972 at the Texas Tech University Center Auditorium. At 19 I was thoroughly moved by this story of old age, poverty, & near-despair! I cannot recall if I have seen his movie Bicycle Thief-- I plan to watch that immediately following this one.

Umberto Domenico Ferrari, (Carlo Battisti in real life a university professor) an elderly & retired civil servant, is desperately trying to maintain a decent standard of living on a rapidly dwindling state pension.

But he's up against his tyrannical landlady, who keeps demanding rent that he can't pay (while renting his room out to prostitutes during the day), & his only friends are the pregnant housemaid & his little dog Flike.

This is one of the greatest Italian Neorealist movies of the 1950s & 1960s. The plot has a very Dickens type outlook of bleak darkness & almost despair. Purely character drive this is a simple story of an older man?s loneliness & poverty.

The director & screen writer allow this older gentleman to continue his downward spiral as we watch squashing our naive notion of deliverance (or escape). It is a great film without being to overtly sentimental.

The acting in this film is absolutely superb. Carlo Battisti, despite having never acted before, is wonderful as the titular character; his face is a fascinating blend of stubborn dignity weariness of life.

Maria Pia-Casilio, who plays the maid, is just as good as evoking life's loneliness & quiet desperation. The supporting cast is also very strong. De Sica makes some fascinating commentary on the human condition, specifically the loneliness & depression the older generation in our society face.

I wonder what will happen to Umberto, though. Was his dog, Flick, his salvation, or the prolongation of his despair? A great unblinking film shows us how society discards the unwanted elderly. 5 stars.