Umberto D

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Leaburn O Whilst I don't think it's quite the classic that it's often made out to be, there's no denying that it has a decent story to tell about a time and place in Italian history as well as possibly influencing one of the sun plots to Shawshank. Decent and fairly short tale. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/30/23 Full Review Valerii Ege D The film is special to me, as it is a much deeper and more unforgettable film than the well-known Bicycle Thieves. The story of Uncle Umberto and his dog Flike is painfully realistic. The helplessness of an elderly man, his weakness and inability to cope, and his attempts to survive despite everything, while still trying to care for those around him, especially his dog, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The fact that even able-bodied people struggle to find work and are reduced to selling their own sheets, while an elderly man struggles to survive during a crisis is one of the best examples of the difficulties of the period. Young people live, but what about the elderly? Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/15/23 Full Review Christopher B Vittorio de Seca was a master of the neorealist style and Umberto D. is one of his many, some argue the greatest, masterpieces. The key to the neorealist movement was in utilizing real life locations and mostly ordinary people in the prominent roles. Umberto D. is played by Carlo Battisti, who was a professor and this is the only film he was featured in but yet what a wonderful performance! Battisti gives such a multifaceted portrayal of the character that you really feel for the down-and-out side but also cheer on the stubborn and prideful side too. The story itself isn't overly complex but rather tells a straight forward narrative following Umberto D. and his trusty companion, whom seems to be the only stability in his life. We see how Umberto's life has been going downward since his retirement and his surmounting back-rent forces his landlady to kick him out (in reality she simply wants to do some improvements to the house and needs his room). We then see him trying to catch a break and get the money in order to keep his room by selling his belongings, all of which the viewer knows is pointless as she wants him out, and thus setting him back all the more. Umberto after coming to this realization that he has lost his home and livelihood as well as any pride he once had, has two choices left. He can either end it all by committing suicide or carrying on into the unknown future with very little to his name, simply his dog for company. The ending can be bittersweet as there is hope but amongst a lot of hopelessness and gloom. The film is simply terrific in telling a profoundly moving story and one of the crowning jewels of the neorealist movement! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/24/22 Full Review kevin c I can rewatch this movie countless times and always catch something new. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review dave s One of the masterpieces of the Italian neorealist movement, Vittorio De Sica's Umberto D. tells the story of Umberto, a retired civil servant trying to adjust to life in post-war Rome. Abandoned by his colleagues, struggling to survive on a meager pension, and battling with his landlord to avoid eviction from his rundown apartment, he finds that his only friend is his faithful dog, who remains by his side regardless of the hardships experienced. Featuring some beautiful cinematography and strong performances from its primarily amateur cast, Umberto D. is a film about survival in a changing world and finding companionship in a community uninterested in establishing relationships. It is filled with memorable moments, including the final touching scene where Umberto looks for a home for his faithful dog. Umberto D. is must see viewing for anyone interested in classic cinema. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member "Umberto D" is a stark portrait of human suffering, rendered all the more potent through the dynamics of a mercilessly beleaguered older man and his beloved dog. If what I've described here sounds like pretty strong stuff, such is the crux of what makes the film great as well a trifle challenging. We genuinely care about the trials of this duo because their affection for one another and their efforts to contend determinedly with their daily travails are heightened by a refreshing absence of manipulative artifice; we peer into their harsh world as though looking directly into our own. In the form of "Umberto D" we are thus given a touching portrait of everything that the neorealist movement stood for, leaving us astounded by an experience that both enchants and hurts because it cuts so undeniably closely to the bone. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Umberto D

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