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30 Second Bottom Line: An old man, unable to meet his growing debts with his meager pension, finds himself on the verge of eviction. Without family or close friends and only his loyal dog Flike for companionship, he contemplates suicide.
Story Line: Set in the economic upheaval of post-World War II Italy, "Umberto D," the 1952 award-winner directed by legendary Vittorio De Sica, tells a simple timeless tale of the plight of the aged through the eyes of one lonely man. The near-poverty level of Rome's senior citizens becomes clear as the film opens with dozens of retired bureaucrats demonstrating for a pension increase. As policemen disperse the crowd, a frustrated Umberto collects his dog and heads for the soup kitchen. He laments to an acquaintance that his landlady's rent increase will force him out of his building.
The story unfolds without pretense-on stark black and white film minus any fancy cinematography-a hallmark of the neo-realistic style of 1950's Italian cinema.
One disappointment follows another for Umberto as his day unfolds.
Scolded for feeding his dog at the soup kitchen, Umberto attempts to sell his watch and is forced to settle for far less than his timepiece's true value. When he returns to his room, he finds that his landlady has rented his room to a young couple for their afternoon tryst. Feeling feverish and ill, he shakes his bedding in disgust and tries to rest. Desperate for money, he sells his beloved books to a used seller only to find that this outing has left him even more ill.
Finally he calls an ambulance and spends a few days recuperating in the hospital. A savvy fellow patient coaxes him to play up to the nurse nun in order to stay on longer. Umberto's homecoming is marred by the complete renovation of his room and the disappearance of his dog. Frantically he searches the pound and miraculously sights Flike minutes before the animal is to be euthanasia.
Confronting his landlady with accusations about her involvement in his dog's disappearance, Umberto is told that he will be thrown out of the building in the morning.
Desperate and depressed, Umberto tries to beg in the streets but cannot bring himself to be humiliated. Passersby and former acquaintances seem unaware of his plight. Resigning himself to death, he tries to find a home for his faithful Flike only to reject the nasty owners of the kennel as unworthy of his beloved pet.
Clutching the dog, Umberto deliberately steps on the tracks in the wake of an oncoming train. A squealing, squirming Flike wrestles himself from Umberto's arms, forcing the man to chase the dog and ultimately escape death.
Tell Me More About It: Re-released on a newly restored 35mm print in celebration of the film's 50th anniversary, "Umberto D" is as emotionally riveting today as it was five decades ago. Heralded as Vittorio De Sica's finest work, this timeless classic is a powerful example of Italy's neo-realistic film movement, a style that dominated that country's film making after World War II. As in his acclaimed "The Bicycle Thief," De Sica uses the common man to illustrate the woes of a society in turmoil.
Shot on the streets of Rome with the absence of special effects, elaborate lighting or self-conscious camera angles, De Sica's film takes on an almost documentary feel, supported further by its minimalist dialogue, sparse story line and cast of several non-actors. Indeed, the role of Umberto is played by a non-professional, Battisti, who was a university professor at the time. His incredible performance scans the depth of human emotion and is always totally believable, never forced. His character represents the universal problems of the aged: their economic struggle to survive with dignity as their resources and health decline. The level of compassion and heartbreak that this unassuming film expresses is truly remarkable.
The most mundane, everyday occurrences take on enormous significance here, with Umberto's bedtime and the maid's routine duties highlighting the humanity of both parties. There is a simple elegant beauty to this film that does not preach but merely shows life's realities. This is both refreshing and disturbing as we witness Umberto being swallowed by the indifference of society. Perhaps the film's ending is a bit upbeat considering its somber buildup, but the glimmer of hope left as Umberto plays with his dog surely leaves the audience on a higher note than expected. Unequivocally, Flike proves that a dog is man's best friend and is also a stunning reminder of the value of an animal's unconditional love.
Winner of the New York Film Circle Award for Best Foreign Film and an Oscar nominee for Best Screenplay, "Umberto D" transcends the decades since its initial release and packs a powerful punch with themes that still resonant in our troubled times.
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