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La Strada (The Road)

La Strada (The Road) (1954)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 4.3/5
User Ratings: 19,647

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Movie Info

Acclaimed Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini drew on his own circus background for the 1954 classic La Strada. Set in a seedy travelling carnival, this symbolism-laden drama revolves around brutish strongman Zampano (Anthony Quinn), his simple and servile girlfriend Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife), and clown/aerialist Matto (Richard Basehart). Appalled at Zampano's insensitive treatment of Gelsomina, the gentle-natured Matto invites her to run off with him; but Gelsomina, like a

PG, 1 hr. 55 min.

Drama, Art House & International, Classics

Nov 18, 2003

Cast

Critic Reviews for La Strada (The Road)

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (1) | DVD (12)

Early mush from the master, Federico Fellini.

April 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (16)
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Signor Fellini has used his small cast, and, equally important, his camera, with the unmistakable touch of an artist. His vignettes fill his movie with beauty, sadness, humor and understanding.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
A.H. Weiler
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As French critic Andre Bazin pointed out, 'The Fellini character does not evolve; he ripens.' And so do his movies.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

La Strada is the first film that can be called entirely 'Felliniesque.'

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The two lead performers...are marvelous and the imagery is gorgeous, with Fellini's precision cutting and dramatic lighting pointing the way to 8 1/2

August 17, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinema Writer | Comment
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer

It's the film that first brought international acclaim to Fellini.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Fellini once described this masterpiece, which marks his break with the strictures of neo-realism, as "the complete catalogue of my mythical world;" It could be seen as another, poetic version of Beauty and the Beast fable.

January 24, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Symbols, metaphors, and larger-than-life performances hold sway, and moments of bizarre if inconsequential charm abound.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment
Geoff Andrew
Time Out Source: Time Out

Whimsical but gritty.

July 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine

A landmark in Federico Fellini's career.

June 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Two unforgettable performances anchor one of Fellini's most powerful films.

June 9, 2005 Comment
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Fellini made several films with actress Giulietta Masina, whom was also his wife, but the character of Gelsomina is the one which, over the years, has been most fondly spoken of and written about.

February 17, 2005 Full Review Source: Light Sleeper: Late Night Writings on Cinema | Comment
Saul Symonds
Light Sleeper: Late Night Writings on Cinema Source: Light Sleeper: Late Night Writings on Cinema

Leaves me cold… no critical account of it I have read has struck me as compelling or illuminating.

November 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

The searing, tearful tell that won Fellini his best Oscar for best foreign film and may be his finest masterpiece.

September 17, 2004 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | Comment
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

There is a wealth of material on this predictably stellar Criterion Collection release.

August 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

Has an unmistakable other-ness to it, as it is an early precursor to the sort of magical realism that would take hold in Fellini's late-career efforts.

August 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

I loved every frame from the start.

January 5, 2004 Full Review | Comment
Mark Robison
Reno Gazette-Journal Source: Reno Gazette-Journal
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for La Strada (The Road)

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If you can ignore a few major plot-holes herein, I guess you'll enjoy the tragic journey (which hardly leads anywhere) of a girl in this classic movie.

June 19, 2011
imrealgod
familiar stranger

Super Reviewer

My first Fellini movie, but definitely not my last. La Strada is an amazing film. At times it is very fun to watch and at others it is almost painful. It brings about an array of emotions that change throughout the entire movie.

May 8, 2011
blkbomb
Melvin White

Super Reviewer

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Latest News for La Strada (The Road)

November 11, 2010:
Legendary Producer Dino De Laurentiis Dies At 91
Oscar-winning producer Dino De Laurentiis, who guided a number of classic films and a few expensive...

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Foreign Titles

  • Das Lied der Straße (DE)
  • The Road (La strada) (UK)
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