A Short Review of 'La Strada' (1954, Fedirico Fellini)

I am going to be frank, I consider this film an underrated classic. When I first saw it, I didn't know completely what to expect. What I found was a powerful and emotional experience, of an extremely well written and well directed drama, from the depths of Italian cinema history. With some people stating it to be one of the most influential films ever made and even went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, in 1957.

The story centres around Gelsomina, a young woman who is sold off to Zambino, as a traveling performer, when her family cannot afford to keep her anymore. Traveling with Zambino, she finds her self the victim of his brutish and exploitative nature, often finding herself abused and bullied. Though at first she tries her absolute best to leave him, she finds she can't due to her romanticised fantasy and love of being a traveling performer.

This gradually builds up her anxiety and is truly triggered when tragedy strikes, when Zambino accidentally kills a rival performer, he had been jealous of, in a fit of rage. Gelsomina becomes extremely distraught and as weeks go by she is unable to get over the events that transpired, becoming mentally unstable. Realising the effect this has had on her, Zambino sneaks off in the night, leaving her some money and warm clothes, hoping she'll be able to make her own way home.

We cut to years later and Zambino discovers that Gelsomina never found her way home but instead died as beggar, wandering the streets. Never eating or speaking, only occasionally playing on her trumpet that Zambino left her. On hearing this, Zambino enters a state of immense remorse for his actions, as the film closes to the sound of his cries and the sea's tide.

Considered to be Fellinis' best film and one of the hallmarks of Italian cinema, La Strada presents a very simplistic but moving plot. Gelsominas' character is very naive and childlike, often romanticising about her life as a traveling performer. Given her nature, it makes the abuse we see her suffer all the more powerful and allow us to have a deeper connection to the character. Her pure innocence makes the outcome of the film all the more sad and emotional, as we see her mind and feelings constantly broken again and again, until the final precipice, where she finally breaks down.

La Strada's main strengths lie in emotions that the script has created, which fit into the playful carnival style atmosphere that Fellini implements. However, though I do say that there is a carnival style atmosphere it is not constant and the atmosphere can actually become quite saddening and melancholic, as we see Gelsominas' cruel predicament. Despite these tonal shifts in the atmosphere, they are handled very well and don't just appear randomly. They are instead cleverly used at the right moments to manipulate our feelings and sympathy towards the main character and her situation.

I will admit that La Strada may not be for everyone; after all, everyone has differing opinions. Some may find it slightly dated and perhaps to slow moving, whereas others, like myself, find it to be a well structured drama with interesting characters. Everyone will have a different opinion on whether they like this film or not but saying that, I still recommend seeing it. It is definitely a film worth seeing for any film fan and any lover of Italian cinema. I'm actually fairly surprised that the film is not more famous, as it is a passionate, emotional drama, that I feel is definitely worth watching.