The Children Are Watching Us

1943

1h 31m

Drama

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Reviews

87%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Tragedy strikes family members (Emilio Cigoli, Luciano De Ambrosis) after a young mother (Isa Pola) deserts them for a lover.

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Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

Culture vultures dismissed the film at the time of its release because of its protoneorealist sentimentality, but this is precisely what makes De Sica's work so special.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 18, 2006

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A painfully moving portrait that shows the affects of a family break-up has on a sensitive 4-year-old boy and destroys his childhood innocence.

Rated: A-

Jan 30, 2013

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

The painful and necessary maturation of a child and of Italian cinema

Aug 12, 2012

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Don Willmott

Filmcritic.com

The final minutes of The Children Are Watching Us comprise one of those searing movie moments, with images you'll never forget

Rated: 4.5/5

May 20, 2006

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Christopher B

"The Children are Watching Us" is another emotion filled and beautifully filmed masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica, who also made the timeless "Bicycle Thieves". This is another small scale drama that is touching, genuine and timeless in it's story of a child who bears witness to his parents demise and even more tragic circumstances. I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen and Luciano De Ambrosis (as Prico) gives a completely believable performance and Emilio Cigoli as the child's father is truly devastating in his performance. I can't recommend this one enough, much like "Bicycle Thieves", is a wonderfully compelling and emotion filled work from a master Director who specializes in these type of films and is worth a watch for anyone who enjoys cinema!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/22

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Audience Member

A young boy sees his family falling apart... A superb and broken-heart masterpiece!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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dave s

Prior to Vittorio De Sica's influential string of landmark neo-realist films of the late 40s and early 50s (Umberto D, Bicycle Thieves, etc…), he directed the emotionally touching The Children Are Watching Us, the story of a young boy witnessing the seemingly inevitable collapse of his family unit. Filled with memorable images (close-ups of the boy's face as he watches his mother's infidelity) and stylish shots (most notably, the tracking shot on the beach at night as the boy runs away while on vacation), the film features subtle performances from the cast and a final scene that is nothing short of heart-breaking. This remarkable film foreshadowed the string of brilliant movies from De Sica in the decade or so that followed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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s r

This film shows the tragedy that can occur to families that are broken and how it affects children. Saw it on TCM.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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katherine m

Made in 1944 (74 years ago!), the film still resonates across today's societal issues and seems ahead of its time in some ways. Vittorio De Sica and Cesare Zavattini's collective genius shines through every scene element and Luciano De Ambrosis' titular acting is genuine and heartrending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

It's too melodramatic and provocative to be a Neorealist classic. A pretty awesome film if you want a good cry but is no way near than The Bicycles Thieves.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Vittorio De Sica

Director

Emilio Cigoli

Andrea

Luciano DeAmbrosis

Pricò

Isa Pola

Nina

Adriano Rimoldi

Roberto

Giovanna Cigoli

Agnese

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Synopsis

Tragedy strikes family members (Emilio Cigoli, Luciano De Ambrosis) after a young mother (Isa Pola) deserts them for a lover.

Director: Vittorio De Sica
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Runtime: 1h 31m