#349 – Umberto D., 1952, Vittorio De Sica
When elderly pensioner Umberto Domenico Ferrari returns to his boarding house from a protest calling for a hike in old-age pensions, his landlady demands her 15,000-lire rent by the end of the month or he and his small dog will be turned out onto the street. Unable to get the money in time, Umberto fakes illness to get sent to a hospital, giving his beloved dog to the landlady’s pregnant and abandoned maid for temporary safekeeping.
#350 – The Wages of Fear, (Le salaire de la peur), 1953, Henri-Georges Clouzot
In the South American jungle, supplies of nitroglycerine are needed at a remote oil field. The oil company pays four men to deliver the supplies in two trucks. A tense rivalry develops between the two sets of drivers on the rough remote roads where the slightest jolt can result in death.
JUMBO CACTUAR APPROVED FILM
#356 – The Tree of Wooden Clogs, (L’albero degli zoccoli), 1978, Ermanno Olmi
The life inside a farm in Italy at the beginning of the century. Many poor country families live there, and the owner pays them by their productivity. One of the families has a very clever child. They decide to send him to school instead of make him help them, although this represents a great sacrifice. The boy has to wake up very early and walk several miles to get to the school. One day the boy’s shoes break when returning home, but they do not have money to buy other. What can they do?
#358 – The Passenger, (Professione: reporter), 1975, Michelangelo Antonioni
David Locke is a world-weary American journalist who has been sent to cover a conflict in northern Africa, but he makes little progress with the story. When he discovers the body of a stranger who looks similar to him, Locke assumes the dead man’s identity. However, he soon finds out that the man was an arms dealer, leading Locke into dangerous situations. Aided by a beautiful woman, Locke attempts to avoid both the police and criminals out to get him.
#364 – Cinema Paradiso, (Nuovo Cinema Paradiso), 1988, Giuseppe Tornatore
A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village’s theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater’s projectionist.
#375 – Nights of Cabiria, (Le notti di Cabiria), 1957, Federico Fellini
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.
#376 – Downfall, (Der Untergang), 2004, Oliver Hirschbiegel
In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Russian Army closing in from the east and the Allied Expeditionary Force attacking from the west. In Berlin, capital of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler proclaims that Germany will still achieve victory and orders his generals and advisers to fight to the last man. When the end finally does come, and Hitler lies dead by his own hand, what is left of his military must find a way to end the killing that is the Battle of Berlin, and lay down their arms in surrender.
#402 – La Strada, 1954, Federico Fellini
When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband’s coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.
#408 – Caché, 2005, Michael Haneke
A married couple is terrorized by a series of videotapes planted on their front porch.
#409 – The Executioner, (El verdugo), 1963, Luis García Berlanga
An undertaker gets married to an old executioner’s daughter and, although he doesn’t like it, must continue the profession of his father-in-law after his retirement.
JUMBO CACTUAR APPROVED FILM
Jumbo Cactuar Film Index 