Umberto D. (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Vittorio De Sica's Umberto D tells the story of an old man named Umberto D. Ferrari and his struggle to keep from falling from poverty into shame. This is one of the greatest of all films from the Neorealism movement, and even when they're sweet scenes that involve Umberto and his little dog Flike; they are shown without being portrayed too sentimental or manipulative as most animals in stories usually are. The bond between Umberto and his dog Flike is one of the sweetest and most tragic relationships in all of the cinema, as it helps emphasize the lonely elderly working class people in Post World War II Italy. Umberto D. and Flike both love each other because when you're at an old age where your family, friends, health, money and home deprive you; an animal can be your best friend. 

The director Vittorio De Sica was the genius behind the masterpiece The Bicycle Thieves; and here he tells another powerful story on poverty and survival; except now it's about an elderly man who will be soon kicked out of his apartment and onto the streets. Umberto Dwas the fourth film that the great Italian director Vittoria De Sica and his longtime collaborator and writer Zavattini had made together after World War II, and it was also the first one that was a failure. Of course time has changed many people's opinions and views of the film as many now believe Umberto D to be not only one of De Sica's greatest films next toThe Bicycle Thieves, but the last official film of the Neorealism movement. The aesthetics of Neorealism included films that were mostly shot on a very low-budget and on real locations not using any stages or props. It was also a style which casted non professional actors because it brought a sense of reality to the characters, where the acting seemed more natural and real.