Umberto D.

An elderly man and his beloved dog face eviction in postwar Rome, in Vittorio De Sica's neo-realist classic.

Retired civil servant Umberto D. (Carlo Battisti) lives in a boarding house with his delightful little dog Flike. His pension no longer covers his rent, and his landlady has her eye on his room. As the threat of homelessness becomes more pressing, Umberto and Flike wander the streets, trying to maintain their dignity while seeking to raise money from friends and strangers alike. As they crisscross a city still recovering from WWII, can Umberto and Flike find a way to ward off despair?

Vittorio De Sica, famed director of Bicycle Thieves (1948), created a deeply moving work here from a slim story, featuring riveting performances from untrained actors. Shot in stunning black and white and revered by directors Martin Scorsese and Ingmar Bergman, Umberto D. is a masterclass in sentiment balanced by gritty realism.

– Fiona Trigg, Senior Curator