Bitter Rice
| Riso amaro | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Giuseppe De Santis |
| Written by | Giuseppe De Santis Carlo Lizzani Gianni Puccini |
| Produced by | Dino De Laurentiis |
| Starring | Vittorio Gassman Doris Dowling Silvana Mangano Raf Vallone Checco Rissone Carlo Mazzarella |
| Cinematography | Otello Martelli |
| Edited by | Gabriele Varriale |
| Music by | Goffredo Petrassi |
| Distributed by | Lux Film Distributing Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film Italy |
| Language | Italian |
Bitter Rice (Italian: Riso Amaro) is a 1949 Italian film made by Lux Film, written and directed by Giuseppe De Santis. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Silvana Mangano, Raf Vallone, Doris Dowling and Vittorio Gassman, Bitter Rice was a commercial success in Europe and America. It was a product of the Italian neorealism style. The film was nominated for the 1950 Academy Award for Best Story. It was also entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.[1] The Italian title is based on a pun; since the Italian word riso means both "rice" and "laughter", Riso amaro means both "bitter laughter" and "bitter rice" in light of the story.
Plot
Bitter Rice begins at the start of the rice-planting season in northern Italy. In an effort to escape the law two small-time thieves, Francesca (Doris Dowling) and Walter (Vittorio Gassman), hide amongst the crowds of female workers heading to the rice fields of the Po Valley. While attempting to board the train for the fields the pair runs into Silvana (Silvana Mangano), a peasant rice worker. Francesca boards the train with Silvana, who introduces her to the planter's way of life. Francesca does not have a work permit, and struggles with the other "illegals"[2] (known as "scabs") to find a place on the rice fields. After initial resistance from documented workers and bosses, the scabs are allowed a place in the fields. At the fields Silvana and Francesca meet a soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco (Raf Vallone), who unsuccessfully tries to attract Silvana's interest. Soon after, Walter tracks Francesca down at the rice fields and plots to steal rice from the storehouses during the celebration at the end of the planting season. Silvana is attracted by what she sees as the glamour of Walter's wealth, and becomes his new partner in crime. Francesca, meanwhile, is disenchanted with her former criminal lifestyle.
Cast
- Vittorio Gassman as Walter
- Doris Dowling as Francesca (Italian voice: Andreina Pagnani)
- Silvana Mangano as Silvana (Italian voice Lydia Simoneschi, English dubbing Bettina Dickson)
- Raf Vallone as Marco
- Checco Rissone as Aristide
- Nico Pepe as Beppe
- Adriana Sivieri as Celeste
- Lia Corelli as Amelia
- Maria Grazia Francia as Gabriella
- Dedi Ristori as Anna
- Anna Maestri as Irene
- Mariemma Bardi as Gianna
- Maria Capuzzo as Giulia
- Isabella Zennaro as Rosa
- Carlo Mazzarella as Gianetto
References
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Bitter Rice". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ^ "TCM Turner Classics Movies Bitter Rice (Riso Amaro) Movie Clip". Retrieved 15 October 2011.
External links
- Bitter Rice at IMDb
