Not sure if there is already a thread on him,
anyway, i've seen 'bicycle thief', 'umberto d.' and 'shoeshine', all of which were fucking great...i won't go into any kind of analysis, just wanted to know if anyone else share's my enthusiasm for this guy...
I've only seen bycicle thief, its fantastic
Quote from: rustinglassI've only seen bycicle thief, its fantastic
ditto
A De Sica topic is indeed welcome. I, too, have been resigned to only seeing a few of his movies. Biycle Thief is gorgeous even if the location is very dry and dehumanizing. Umberto D, too, an excellent film, but parts of it don't really work. It is his barest work in the sense of Neo Realism and trying to capture the most minimalist approach, but parts of the movie extend too long on easy narrative that can be associated with any other movie. This argument directly relays to the scenes between the old man and the young woman. A lot of them carry a distracting tone of conventiality when the film is suppose to be his barest work; his most unflinching look at the bleakness capable in the Neo Realism movement. This is just minor bickering on my part.
I also watched most of The Garden of the Finzis Continas (sp?) a while back but never finished. I had no clue it was De Sica nor what he was capable of. I very much wish to see all that movie. Its been on IFC lately as if out of the blue. This is good because it gives me another chance but also intriguing, because as with other films, it may suggest a coming Criterion release on dvd for the film. Would make sense considering the placement of De Sica in the collection and the odd appearance of the film on IFC.
Also, I must welcome yet another new guy. And again, good taste in avatars. Hope you enjoy the place and learn to bring your opinion, because even your opinion at least gurantees another look at a good avatar.
~rougerum
I recently watched my Criterion disc of Terminal Station/Indiscretion of an American Wife. Both are quite good, actually; they're not terribly different, except that Selznick's version has a few more Hollywood-melodramatic touche, and de Sica's version is more involved and has a more lingering, probing, unhurried quality.
I've also seen Umberto D, but haven't seen Bicycle Thief or any of the others mentioned.
I was quite blown away with Umberto D. But I like stories with puppies, so what can I say?
BT was good too, but I liked Umberto way better.
I'd like to see some of his later stuff...
Vittorio De Sica? More like Runaway Audience!
But seriously, The Bicycle Theif is 8) .
:(
Quote from: ShanghaiOrangeVittorio De Sica? More like Runaway Audience!
LOL......
Quote from: ShanghiaOrangeBut seriously, The Bicycle Theif is 8) .
:(
..i agree..Its also the onlyone I have seen
I watched Umberto D tonight. The only other De Sica film I've seen was The Bicycle Thief, so I don't yet have an idea about his body of work, but the style of Umberto D was more formal than BT. It doesn't quite have BT's sense of realism because of this, but it still has that odd sense of realism.
saw Miracle In Milan last night. it seemed to me that it was more of a film by Cesare Zavattini, who was the chief screenwriter and adapting his own book. This does not make me dislike the film at all. It has the common elements of neo-realism (war-torn Italy, the poor, humanistic qualties), but is mixed with an element of fantasy and comedy. Although the film was very funny, i still saw it as very bleak, especially the ending.
not his best, but worth a watch if you can find it. has anybody else seen it?