La Strada

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La Strada

Released Jul 16, 1956

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

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80 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò (Anthony Quinn) to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto (Richard Basehart), the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

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Critics Consensus

Giulietta Masina and Anthony Quinn's pitiable pair of outsiders provide a poignant contrast between gentleness and might in Federico Fellini's unforgettable parable.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Even if one rejects the concepts of this movie, its mood and the details of scenes stay with one; a year or two later, a gesture or a situation suddenly brings it all back.

Sep 14, 2022

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Newsweek Staff

Newsweek

Anthony Quinn as the strong man and Richard Basehart as a derisive rival are excellent. As the girl, Giulietta Masina is extraordinarily touching and gives a performance hard to forget.

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Acting by Quinn and Basehart is tops, but Giulietta Masina, one of Italy's best performers, easily steals show with her clownish mimicry, a job which should finally earn her more consistent work in local pix.

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Bianca Garner

InSession Film

If there’s one thing we can take away from the story of La Strada and the character of Gelsomina, it’s that behind every great showman there’s a great woman.

Jul 31, 2024

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Vernon Young

The Hudson Review

Like any deeply felt and realized symbol, La Strada is at once nuclear and radiating; within its deceptively simple span, an eternal pattern and a prophecy are established.

Jan 30, 2024

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It carries with it, in a sublime and sad way, Fellini's neorealist spirit. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Dec 13, 2023

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Thomas S

Giulietta Masina, avec ses mimiques de clown triste, incarne à la perfection la candeur et la douleur mêlées de Gelsomina. Pour moi, La Strada parle avant tout de la manière dont un seul acte peut marquer une vie entière — jusqu’au dernier souffle — même lorsqu’on l’a accompli en toute conscience. Impossible de ne pas penser à la dernière scène de la saison 3 de The White Lotus : ce moment terrible où l’on sacrifie la seule personne qui vous a offert de l’amour. Un film bouleversant sur la culpabilité, l’irréversibilité des choix et la solitude intérieure.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

Isaiah Y

One of Fellini's best films. Giulietta Masina was amazing, but this had to be Anthony Quinn's greatest performance of his career.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

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William B

Fellini never disappointed. What a great movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

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Will G

A great Italian film. Fellini is an awesome director. The movie is about circus performers and mainly focuses on a strongman and a female clown. It was nice to see Italy in the film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Luca D

Watch sawdust and tinsel instead, came out a year prior and has a similar theme just with better writing and acting. Zampano and the fool were the only interesting characters in the movie. Calling it Fellini's masterpiece is an insult to him.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/27/24

Full Review

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Federico Fellini

Director

Anthony Quinn

Zampanò

Giulietta Masina

Gelsomina

Richard Basehart

Il 'Matto'-The 'Fool'

Aldo Silvani

Il Signor Giraffa-Mr Giraffe

Marcella Rovere

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Synopsis

When Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò (Anthony Quinn) to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto (Richard Basehart), the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

Director: Federico Fellini
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Carlo Ponti
Distributor: Trans Lux
Production Co: Ponti-De Laurentiis Cinematografica
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 16, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 55m

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