This is the second time that I've seen Fellini's wife Giulietta Massina in action and I cannot help but point out again how much she reminds me of Charlie Chaplin. In La Strada, the similarity is more pronounced as she plays a clown, but the resemblance sticks with her in Nights of Caribia as well. It is a combination of two things, her ability to make distinct facial expressions with her naturally round face and also the child-like innocence that she brings to her character.
Cabiria is a prostitute living in Rome, but this isn't quite the prostitute with a heart of gold story. She does have a good heart but she knows she is a sinner; she is waiting for a miracle to give meaning to her life. She does have a naivety and innocent charm, but is also fiery and full of spunk. (She's the embodiment of the stereotype that Italians are always yelling.) Cabiria's naivety will prove to be her downfall. In fact the film has one of the more bizarre opening scenes you'll ever see; her own boyfriend steals her purse and pushes her into a river causing her to almost drown. By the way, was I the only one who laughed at this scene? No, I don't condone robbing women, but come on, you got to admit the scene is pretty frigging absurd.
We follow Cabiria through a series of episodes that can almost be classified as misadventures that always seem to end up badly for her. It is almost a case study in how much crap one has to deal with before breaking, yet Cabiria always seems to rise back up. She may be a prostitute and a little loud, but we desperately want her to find what she's looking for. In the best scene of the film, she is hypnotized by a magician at a show where she allows her tough exterior to be peeled away revealing a woman of such love and innocence that it is almost too much too watch. It is one of the more endearing moments that I have seen on film.
Cabiria is an endearing character which makes her story all the more somber. You can see the ending coming even if she can't and you wonder how she will deal with her latest heartbreak. She comes across a marching parade and takes in its exuberance. Despite everything she has been through, she manages to crack her trademark smile behind her tears. Even though the entire film is basically about her disappointments, it feels like she's going to be alright in the end, somehow someway.
Grade: B+
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