Nights of Cabiria (1957)

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Director: Federico Fellini

Writers: Federico Fellini, story by Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli, (collaborating writer) Pier Paolo Pasolini, (writing consultant) Brunello Rondi

Stars: Giulietta Masini, Francois Perier, Franca Marzi, Dorian Gray, Aldo Silvani, Ennio Girolami, Mario Passante, Christian Tassou


Writer/director Federico Fellini's film follows the life of a prostitute (Giulietta Masina) whose tough exterior conceals a soul that is longing to surrender itself to someone that she can love and trust.
 

Unfortunately, her occupation doesn't present her with many likely candidates, and the men she gives her heart to inevitably betray her.
 

She bounces back sad, angry, and bitter, but also resilient and determined to forge ahead.
 

We know that she will give her heart away again and again, no matter how badly she is hurt, and we can only hope that the next man will treat her as she deserves.
 

This film really needs an actress of Masina's ability to make it succeed.
 

It meanders along, following Cabiria from situation to situation, and not all of it held my attention. 


I sometimes found myself growing bored, only to be confronted with a riveting scene such as the sequence at the hypnotist's show, where Cabiria is cruelly manipulated into revealing her vulnerability on stage before a rowdy crowd, setting her up for yet more tragedy.
 

The film's final sequence is remarkable.

Spoiler alert!!! Final scene!!






























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