La Strada

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1 hr. 55 min.

Drama

List

97%

79 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Aender S

So far my favourite film by Federico Fellini.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

Full Review

Thomas V

Pretty grim stuff by today's standards in terms of how women are treated, even moreso than the other Fellini films I've seen. But it's from a different era. A sad take on the beauty and the beast trope, with good performances and the beginning ingredients of what they call fellini-esqe films. And Giulietta Masina is wonderful.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

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isaac m

La Strada is an amazing movie. I love the performances, the story and the set designs. I also enjoy of how the movie is reinventing by focusing on realism instead of the old Hollywood techniques. Overall, La Strada is a one of a kind movie from the Italian state.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

kips r

fellinis best and one of my all time favorites. the character Gelsomina is one of the greatest characters i can remember seeing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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lucca b

An unconventional yet captivating friendship -- and sort of romance -- that depicts an excellent contrast between gullible innocence and brute strength, that thanks to Federico Fellini's filmmaking talent and the well-matched leads, it becomes one of the greatest films of postwar Italy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

dave s

In Federico Fellini's La Strada, Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), a young and simple peasant girl, is sold to Zampano (Anthony Quinn), a brutal street entertainer, as his assistant. Together, they travel the Italian countryside, scrounging to make ends meet and struggling to come to terms with their volatile relationship. It is an often beautiful and sometimes ugly examination of the meaning of being, filled with striking images, a touching score, and a strong performance from Quinn. Some will find Masina's performance overbearing at times, but she effectively captures the innocent nature of her character. The final shot of Zampano on the beach coming to terms with his lot in life is nothing if not memorable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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

La Vedova-The Widow

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Pauline Kael

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

Full Review

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

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Federico Fellini’s beautiful story of a woman...

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

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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
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

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