Take an example like Fellini's La Strada and Nights of Cabiria. Both star Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina as a woman who is never fully appreciated by her peers. In La Strada, she is abused by a circus strongman. In Nights of Cabiria, she tries to find love among her clients. The similarity? For both women, they always keep their spirits up no matter how bad the situation they're in is.
As Cabiria, Masina has us sympathizing for her at the very beginning. (After all, the first scene shows her getting robbed and pushed into a river by her "lover".) Throughout her hardships, we develop a bond with her. We also hope that maybe, just maybe, Cabiria will find love.
Although not my favorite Fellini (that goes to either 8 1/2 or La Strada), I did like Nights of Cabiria. The highlight of the movie is definitely Masina. And you have to love that final shot of her.
My Rating: *****
Nights of Cabiria is my favorite Fellini (so far) and I've seen I vitelloni, La Strada, Il Bidone, Juliet of the Spirits, Amarcord, 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita. Runner up is his Edgar Allen Poe adaptation-Toby Dammit.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I haven't seen either Notti or La Strada. But I did just see Julietta of the Spirits, and again, Masina is a wonderful woman who nobody respects or loves as she deserves. But in this one, she has a hard time keeping her spirits up.
ReplyDeleteMasina was something else, wasn't she?
I have to agree with Yojimbo_5, this is also my favorite Fellini film.
ReplyDelete