Our take
There are plenty of great directors all over the world, but few directors have a filmography that’s as stacked as Federico Fellini’s. Any of his films would be a great recommendation, really. But there’s a certain charm to Nights of Cabiria that still captivates more than half a century later. With Fellini, coming from post-war Italian neorealism, there’s certainly the bleak circumstances that streetwalker Cabiria finds herself in. Heck, the first few minutes finds her getting robbed and pushed into a river. But her nighttime adventures already hint at Fellini’s future penchant for wonder and fantasy, through the sweeping score, the expressive eyes of Giulietta Masina, and through the way each sequence lingers on the way Cabiria keeps her head up despite the men in her life failing her again and again. It’s because of this optimism that Nights of Cabiria stands out from the many gems in Fellini’s oeuvre.
Synopsis
Rome, 1957. A woman, Cabiria, is robbed and left to drown by her boyfriend, Giorgio. Rescued, she resumes her life and tries her best to find happiness in a cynical world. Even when she thinks her struggles are over and she has found happiness and contentment, things may not be what they seem.
Storyline
Despite going through a series of unfortunate events, Cabiria, an unlucky prostitute, wanders the streets of Rome in the name of true love.
TLDR
Even the most pessimistic filmgoer would find themselves hopeful for Cabiria.
What stands out
Cabiria herself. There are plenty of stories with prostitutes with hearts of gold, but rarely are they as well-written as Cabiria, and Giulietta Masina carries that role with ease.