Cabiria (Giulietta Masina) is a street walker in Rome. She is first joyfully with her boyfriend Giorgio. Suddenly, he pushes her into the river and steals her purse. She almost drowns. When she regains consciousness, she screams at her rescuers and calls for her boyfriend. Life is hard for her. Giorgio is gone with her money. She's not pretty. She's not the brightest girl. She's frustrated. A vaudeville magician hypnotized the woman as she acts out a date with her dream man. Accountant Oscar is impressed with her honest love and proposes marriage. Cabiria sells everything she has to get 400k lire so that the couple could open a shop. However, her struggle to find love may not come to the happily ever after that she wants so much.
Cabiria is an unique character. She is not always likable. She is angry at times. She is an idiot at other times. Federico Fellini creates a damaged character who can't seems to get it right ever. It does meander for much of the first half. The most interesting section starts with the vaudeville show. It ramps up the energy of the movie. The last half of the movie is riveting.
Cabiria is an unique character. She is not always likable. She is angry at times. She is an idiot at other times. Federico Fellini creates a damaged character who can't seems to get it right ever. It does meander for much of the first half. The most interesting section starts with the vaudeville show. It ramps up the energy of the movie. The last half of the movie is riveting.