| Umberto D. | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vittorio De Sica |
| Produced by | Rizzoli-De Sica-Amato |
| Written by | Cesare Zavattini (story and screenplay) |
| Starring | Carlo Battisti Maria-Pia Casilio Lina Gennari Ileana Simova Elena Rea Memmo Carotenuto |
| Music by | Alessandro Cicognini |
| Cinematography | G. R. Aldo |
| Editing by | Eraldo Da Roma |
| Distributed by | Dear Film (Italy theatrical) Janus Films (US theatrical) Fabulous Films (UK VHS) Criterion (Region 1 DVD) |
| Release date(s) | Jan 20, 1952 (Italy) Nov 7, 1955 (USA) |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
Umberto D. is a 1952 Italian neorealist film, directed by Vittorio de Sica. Most of the actors were non-professional, including Carlo Battisti, who plays the title role. It tells the story of Umberto Domenico Ferrari (Carlo Battisti), an old man in Rome who is desperately trying to keep his room on a small state pension, but whose landlady (Lina Gennari) is expecting to drive him out to fit her social lifestyle. He tries to find the money but is unable to beg to his richer friends, and cannot be helped by his only true friends, a maid (Maria-Pia Casilio) and his dog, Flike (called 'Flag' in some subtitled versions of the film). The movie was in the "Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Movies" in 2005.[1]
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The film begins with a march of elderly men for the raising of pensions which is quickly stopped by the police because the men had no permit to march. The crowd files out of the square, still muttering their protests, with the camera eventually focusing in on one of the marchers, Umberto D. Ferrari. He returns to his apartment, where the landlady threatens to kick him out at the end of the month, assuming he will not pay her fifteen thousand lire. Umberto goes out to sell his watch and some books in desperate attempts to raise the money, but only raises a third of the funds required. The maid confides in Umberto about her relationships with two soldiers and how they are both abandoning her in her pregnancy.
Umberto calls for doctors to take him to a hospital in an attempt to escape paying rent, and the maid is given care of Umberto's dog while he is away. When Umberto returns to the apartment, he finds his room being renovated. The landlady is changing and decorating the house to accommodate her social gatherings. This renovation sends the clear message that the landlady no longer plans to house him. Umberto contemplates suicide by stepping on the electrified trolley rail until discouraged by the fate of his dog asleep on the bed.
Umberto then leaves the apartment and attempts to find a place for his dog to stay before finding where he himself will live (or die). Umberto attempts to leave Flike with a couple who house dogs, then a little girl. As Flike plays with the girl in the park Umberto walks away hoping that Flike will not follow Umberto. Despite Umberto's attempt to hide from Flike the dog finds Umberto hiding under a footbridge. Umberto decides to take the life of both. In desperation Umberto walks towards a train track where a train is about to pass. Umberto holds Flike and walks under the protective barrier towards the oncoming train. Flike struggles and frees himself as Umberto hesitates. Umberto realizes what he was about to do and calls Flike who flees into the park. Umberto, with the help of a pine-cone, regains the dog's trust and his will to live.
Ingmar Bergman cited Umberto D. as his favorite film.[2]
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