Watch Umberto D.

Umberto D. is a classic Italian neorealist film directed by Vittorio De Sica and released in 1952. The movie stars Carlo Battisti as Umberto, a retired civil servant, struggling to make ends meet in postwar Rome. Maria Pia Casilio plays his devoted, young housekeeper, Maria, and Lina Gennari his unfeeling landlady. The film tells the story of Umberto, a pensioner who finds himself struggling to pay rent and afford medical care for himself and his beloved dog. Alone and without friends or family, Umberto is faced with the harsh realities of poverty, unemployment, and miserable living conditions that were common in Italy during the postwar period.

Umberto's struggle is not just financial, but emotional as well. He is alienated from his former colleagues, who have abandoned him in his hour of need. He has no children or close friends, and his only comfort comes from his dog, Flike.

Without any other means of support, Umberto turns to his landlady for help. But she is unsympathetic to his situation and demands he leave the apartment immediately. Desperate and with nowhere else to turn, Umberto contemplates suicide.

Throughout the film, we see the human face of poverty and the toll it takes on individuals struggling to eke out an existence. Depicted in stark black and white photography, the film is a moving tribute to the human spirit's resilience in the face of hardship.

Carlo Battisti's portrayal of Umberto is both understated and heart-wrenching. As the film's central character, Umberto is a dignified man who refuses to beg or steal to survive. His struggle is one of quiet dignity, and Battisti beautifully conveys the character's sense of pride and self-respect.

Maria Pia Casilio's Maria is a bright and optimistic foil to Umberto's morose and resigned character. Her genuine affection for her employer is touching, and she becomes a voice of reason when Umberto is at his lowest point.

But perhaps the most poignant relationship in the film is the one between Umberto and Flike, his loyal and devoted dog. Flike symbolizes Umberto's deepest attachment to life and is a living representation of the humanity that exists within him.

Umberto D. is a timeless film that captures the simplicity and complexity of human existence. It is a testament to the Italian neorealist movement, emphasizing the importance of social realism and humanism in film. Though the film was made nearly 70 years ago, its themes of poverty, isolation, and the struggle for human dignity are still relevant today.

The movie's cinematography is as beautiful as it is striking. The use of stark black and white photography emphasizes the gritty reality of Umberto's situation, the severity of the postwar environment. The lighting is also noteworthy, producing beautiful chiaroscuro effects that heighten the emotional intensity of the film.

In many ways, Umberto D. is a slice of life film, a document of a particular moment in history, and a reminder of the human toll of poverty. It is a masterful work of cinema, full of powerful performances, stunning photography, and a poignant, deeply human story. For anyone interested in the neorealist movement, Umberto D. is essential viewing.

Umberto D. is a 1952 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2 and a MetaScore of 92.