La Strada (1954) directed by Federico Fellini
This is my first experience with the famed Italian director, Federico Fellini. I only know of the names of his other works La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2, but don't really know anything about them other than they are supposed to be super artsy and confusing. Apparently La Strada was seen as more of a bridgework between his neorealism roots and the kind of imaginative visual artistry he would be later known for. Without knowing much about the history of the director and the film, it is hard to really judge how significant La Strada is. I can only judge it on its own merits with my limited scope of knowledge and appreciation.
La Strada is a simple tale of Gelsomina, a waif who is sold by her mother to a travelling street performer, Zampano. Together the two travel the road performing circus acts. Zampano teaches Gelsomina a little about the trade, basically enough to be his assistant, but is generally dismissive and cruel to the young woman. The story revolves around their travels and the dynamic between the two characters. Along the way, they meet a character called The Fool, a high-wire acrobat and clown who feuds with Zampano but teaches Gelsomina a little about life.
La Strada is generally a pretty somber tale. You spend much of the time watching Zampano be a jerk and boss Gelsomina around, but despite her protestations, she remains loyal to him. But why? He never truly softens up to her and is as quick tempered in the end as he is in the beginning. One of the lessons that The Fool gives Gelsomina is that everything has a purpose, even a tiny pebble, but what is Gelsomina's purpose? She laments, "If I don't stay with him, who will?" She has the opportunity to leave, but she chooses to stay. Does she think that her purpose in life is to take care of this jerk forever? If so, it is a pretty crummy purpose in life. Maybe she thinks she can change him or soften his heart, but her loyalty is not rewarded. What lesson are we to learn?
The driving point of the film are the two lead characters. Perhaps I've been too fixated on Charlie Chaplin lately, but Gelsomina (Giulietta Massina) reminds me a lot of Chaplin's Tramp. A lot of it has to do with her clown-like appearance and demeanor. She has such a peculiar face, resembling a sad clown with her distinct round eyes. But most importantly she exudes a child-like innocence reminiscent of The Tramp. She even shares his trademark waddle. Gelsomina is a simpleton, perhaps even slightly mentally challenged. Ironically, Zampano (Anthony Quinn) is not much smarter than she is. He has one act and one act only, undoubtedly taught to him long ago and rehearsed and performed over and over exactly the same. It is not a particularly impressive trick, he breaks a chain around his chest by flexing his muscles, but it is seemingly all he knows, not just in the circus, but life itself. What is his ultimate purpose? As misguided as Gelsomina may be, at least she think she knows hers. Zampano doesn't think in these terms, he only knows how to break this chain around his chest. He is either too stupid or blind to realize that he needs Gelsomina, perhaps even unconsciously likes her, yet he remains unreasonably cruel to her.
In a tragic turn of events, he ends up abandoning her to never see her again. It is only when it is too late does he realize his mistake, that he actually did care for her after all. Years later, he is still performing the same stupid trick, but visibly wary. He recites his lines tiredly, missing the one person who could ever truly care for him. The film opens with him buying Gelsomina from her mother by the beach and it ends with him going to a beach alone, breaking down in tears. Rather than finding serenity in the beach's beauty he can only see the vast emptiness of the ocean and in himself.
I enjoyed La Strada mainly for Gelsomina's innocence and charm. Incidentally we actually don't learn that much from her. She never really explains why she sticks around other than through some sense of duty. "If I don't stay with him, who will?" seems too pessimistic to believe. The only true revelation we have of any character is of Zampano in the end.
Grade: B
This is my first experience with the famed Italian director, Federico Fellini. I only know of the names of his other works La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2, but don't really know anything about them other than they are supposed to be super artsy and confusing. Apparently La Strada was seen as more of a bridgework between his neorealism roots and the kind of imaginative visual artistry he would be later known for. Without knowing much about the history of the director and the film, it is hard to really judge how significant La Strada is. I can only judge it on its own merits with my limited scope of knowledge and appreciation.
La Strada is a simple tale of Gelsomina, a waif who is sold by her mother to a travelling street performer, Zampano. Together the two travel the road performing circus acts. Zampano teaches Gelsomina a little about the trade, basically enough to be his assistant, but is generally dismissive and cruel to the young woman. The story revolves around their travels and the dynamic between the two characters. Along the way, they meet a character called The Fool, a high-wire acrobat and clown who feuds with Zampano but teaches Gelsomina a little about life.
La Strada is generally a pretty somber tale. You spend much of the time watching Zampano be a jerk and boss Gelsomina around, but despite her protestations, she remains loyal to him. But why? He never truly softens up to her and is as quick tempered in the end as he is in the beginning. One of the lessons that The Fool gives Gelsomina is that everything has a purpose, even a tiny pebble, but what is Gelsomina's purpose? She laments, "If I don't stay with him, who will?" She has the opportunity to leave, but she chooses to stay. Does she think that her purpose in life is to take care of this jerk forever? If so, it is a pretty crummy purpose in life. Maybe she thinks she can change him or soften his heart, but her loyalty is not rewarded. What lesson are we to learn?
The driving point of the film are the two lead characters. Perhaps I've been too fixated on Charlie Chaplin lately, but Gelsomina (Giulietta Massina) reminds me a lot of Chaplin's Tramp. A lot of it has to do with her clown-like appearance and demeanor. She has such a peculiar face, resembling a sad clown with her distinct round eyes. But most importantly she exudes a child-like innocence reminiscent of The Tramp. She even shares his trademark waddle. Gelsomina is a simpleton, perhaps even slightly mentally challenged. Ironically, Zampano (Anthony Quinn) is not much smarter than she is. He has one act and one act only, undoubtedly taught to him long ago and rehearsed and performed over and over exactly the same. It is not a particularly impressive trick, he breaks a chain around his chest by flexing his muscles, but it is seemingly all he knows, not just in the circus, but life itself. What is his ultimate purpose? As misguided as Gelsomina may be, at least she think she knows hers. Zampano doesn't think in these terms, he only knows how to break this chain around his chest. He is either too stupid or blind to realize that he needs Gelsomina, perhaps even unconsciously likes her, yet he remains unreasonably cruel to her.
In a tragic turn of events, he ends up abandoning her to never see her again. It is only when it is too late does he realize his mistake, that he actually did care for her after all. Years later, he is still performing the same stupid trick, but visibly wary. He recites his lines tiredly, missing the one person who could ever truly care for him. The film opens with him buying Gelsomina from her mother by the beach and it ends with him going to a beach alone, breaking down in tears. Rather than finding serenity in the beach's beauty he can only see the vast emptiness of the ocean and in himself.
I enjoyed La Strada mainly for Gelsomina's innocence and charm. Incidentally we actually don't learn that much from her. She never really explains why she sticks around other than through some sense of duty. "If I don't stay with him, who will?" seems too pessimistic to believe. The only true revelation we have of any character is of Zampano in the end.
Grade: B
Why did you start with this one? Just so you know, La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2 are much different than La Strada, so you should check them out without your take on this movie affecting your inclination to see them.
ReplyDeleteI like this movie, but agree with much of what you say and didn't love it or anything. The other two Fellini films have a lot more to offer.
But I do think the female lead was quite an intriguing person, both the character and the actress. I like the Tramp comparison!