esrosedotblog

STRAGGLER

I spent a couple, maybe a few years watching all the NYTimes Best 1176 films.

Or as many as were on disc. Maybe 200 or so remained on the "not available" list and will probably never be available anywhere, any time.

But every so often one hurdles the fence. Such a film came through for today.

Vittoria De Sica's Shoeshine (1947)

This film is about two friends who get caught up in a corrupt and callous justice (no justice actually) system. It was made immediately after WWII when there were no studios or other physical plant to film in. De Sica "invented" the neo-realistic picture, shot on the streets and public facilities out of necessity.

All filming is on the fly. A lot of the actors are either very old or younger amateurs. The middle had been sacrificed to the War.

This is a tear jerker. I saw it when it came out and can still remember the pathos of the story. But there is not a minute that is not engaging. Short and unsweet nothing is overdone and the photography is outstanding. Look at this imaage.

A movie movie. In short, a film. What is the difference? Watch this and you will have the answer.

The situations shown are universal and eternal. Still, today, kids corrupted and sold out by the bad guys and the "good guys" both.

I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5 mostly because I wouldn't want to see the tough stuff again.

De Sica has won more Oscars for foreign film than any other director. And if you have a chance to see him act do not miss it.

Labels: best films