La Strada + Winter Matinee Launch

Celebrate the launch of our Winter Matinees program with Fellini's early Academy Award-winning masterpiece which enjoys its 70th anniversary this year.

Gelsomina (Giuletta Masina), a naive peasant girl, is sold to the circus strongman, Zampano (Anthony Quinn). As she accompanies him on tour through the countryside, she becomes the victim of his constant abuse until their meeting with a circus performer (Richard Baseheart) dramatically changes their lives.

Curator's Note

To kick off our Winter Matinees program, we're beginning with one of the great works of Italian modernist cinema. Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, La Strada made its world premiere at the 15th Venice International Film Festival amid some controversy – a riot did ensue – the cause of which is that the Silver Lion award was not given to a neorealist film which was the mode of the time.

Before the screening, we'll give audiences a sneak peek at the Matinees program ahead.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)