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Umberto D (Criterion Collection)
Product Information
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1346394
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Umberto D (Criterion Collection)
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Features: DVD, Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, Black & White, Mono Audio, English, Subtitled
Shot on location with a cast of nonprofessional actors, Vittorio De Sica's neorealist masterpiece follows Umberto D., an elderly pensioner, as he struggles to make ends meet during Italy's postwar economic boom. Alone except for his dog, Flike, Umberto strives to maintain his dignity while trying to survive in a city where traditional human kindness seems to have lost out to the forces of modernization. Umberto's simple quest to fulfill the most fundamental human needs-food, shelter, companionship-is one of the most heartbreaking stories ever filmed and an essential classic of world cinema.
"De Sica's greatest achievement" Martin Scorsese
"An unflinching masterpiece..." Time Out New York
Editor's Note
UMBERTO D., from director Vittorio De Sica, is a simple, heartbreaking tale about the life of an elderly pensioner. Penniless and alone, with only the maid (Lina Genneri) from his rooming house and a devoted dog for companionship, the old man (Carlo Battisti) contemplates suicide. But then one day, a ray of hope pierces his bleak existence, and everything changes. This careful observation of one man's attempt to keep his dignity in the face of a hostile society is one of the pearls of Italian post-war cinema.
Plot Summary
The Italian classic UMBERTO D., from director Vittorio De Sica, offers a realistic character sketch of an elderly man, Umberto D. (Carlo Battisti), who is determined to retain his dignity in spite of a meager pension. As with many of De Sica's Neo-realist films, the central struggle is existence--Umberto D.'s pension is simply too small a sum to cover his rent. Joining forces with fellow pensioners, the men stage a protest that is ignored. Umberto attempts and fails to sell his meager belongings when he falls ill. After he returns from hospitalization for the illness, he makes an effort to beg on the street, but is foiled by his own pride. Hitting rock bottom, Umberto decides to kill himself as soon as he can find a new home for his beloved dog, Flag. When he fails to find a home for the dog, Umberto attempts to take the dog with him to the great beyond.In UMBERTO D., De Sica depicts the bleakness of life with unparalleled subtlety and craftsmanship. Deep focus photography details Umberto's isolation, while pointing out that countless other elderly poor people live in similar conditions. De Sica uses sound and music deftly to portray Umberto's subjective feelings and decisions. While many of De Sica's films achieved enormous critical acclaim, UMBERTO D. is often considered as the director's finest work.
| Features | Essay By Critic Stuart Klawans | | Subtitles: English | | "This Is Life: Vittorio De Sica" A Documentary Spanning The Director's Career | | Interview With Actress Maria Pia Casilio | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Audio: Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Home Vision/Public Media |
| Release Date: 7/22/2003 |
| Running Time: 89 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1952 | | Catalog ID: 020 | | UPC: 00037429176122 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: Italian | | Available Audio Tracks: Italian | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: B&W |
Aspect Ratio | | 4:3 |
| Cast & Crew | Carlo Battisi | | Ileana Simova | | Lina Genneri | | Maria Pia Casilio | | Aldo Graziati - Cinematographer | | Vittorio De Sica - Director | | Eraldo Da Roma - Editor | | Giuseppe Amato - Producer | | Vittorio De Sica - Producer | | Angelo Rizzoli - Producer | | Cesare Zavattini - Screenplay | | Vittorio De Sica - Screenplay |
| Awards |
Oscar (1957) | | | Cesare Zavattini, Nominee, Best Writing, Motion Picture Story |
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