Movie Masterworks

“Madonna, help me to change my life. Bestow your grace on me too. Make me change my life.”

Synopsis: Giulietta Masina won Best Actress at Cannes as the title character of one of Fellini’s most haunting films. Oscar® winner for Best Foreign Language Film, ‘Nights of Cabria’ (’Le Notti di Cabiria’) is the tragic story of a naive prostitute searching for true love in the seediest sections of Rome. Criterion proudly presents the restored director’s cut in a breathtaking new transfer.

Critique: The positive nature of Cabiria is so noble and wonderful. Cabiria offers herself to the lowest bidder and hears truth in lies. Though she is a prostitute, her basic instinct is to search for happiness as best she can, as one who has not been dealt a good hand. She wants to change, but she has been typecast in life as a loser. Yet she is a loser who always goes on to look again for some happiness.Cabiria is a victim, and any of us can be a victim at one time or another. Cabiria is, however, more of a victim personality than most. Yet even so, there is also the survivor in her. This film doesn’t have a resolution in the sense that there is a final scene in which the story reaches a conclusion so definitive that you no longer have to worry about Cabiria. I myself have worried about her fate ever since.

-Federico FelliniExcerpted from I, Fellini (1995) by Charlotte Chandler.Excerpted from I, Fellini (1995) by Charlotte Chandler.

My thoughts: I can’t help but root for Cabiria. Beneath a veneer of bravodo is a warm hearted human being who is completely vulnerable. Deeper still, is a person of great strength. Whenever I feel life has me on the ropes I remember the character Cabiria at the end of the this film for inspiration.