Enzo Staiola

A documentary about Vittorio de Sica with clips of his films and testimonials from friends and family.

This short documentary features interviews with film scholar Callisto Cosulich, BICYCLE THIEVES coscreenwriter Suso Cecchi d’Amico, and actor Enzo Staiola. The interviews were conducted in Italy in 2005.

Two seemingly separate stories in New South Wales: a burned, murdered body of a young woman is found on the beach, and a retired inspector makes inquiries; also, Linda, a waitress and ferry attendant, has several lovers and marries one, but continues seeing the others. The police have a suspect in the murder, but the retired inspector is convinced they're wrong; he continues a methodical investigation. Linda and her husband separate, and there are complications. Will the stories cross or are they already twisted together?

Three partisans bound by a strong friendship return home after the war, but the clash with everyday reality puts a strain on their bond.

In Renaissance Italy, the young and beautiful Gigliola resists her adopted father's effort to marry her off to a wealthy older suitor. Instead, Gigliola loves Cino, a humble troubador. When Cino kills the suitor in a moment of impulsive anger, he's condemned to death, but Cino's friends rescue him. Gigliola persuades Cino to take her with him. Together they join the rebels seeking to free the land from tyranny.

A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.

Energetic priest Don Camillo returns to the town of Brescello for more political and personal duels with Communist mayor Peppone.

Carlo, a young doctor, occasionally meets Anna, the daughter of professor Valli. Carlo falls in love with Anna, who returns his feelings; but her father longs a brilliant marriage for her.

In the last days of the world war II a young Alpine soldier trys to find his way back home after the army was disbanded. In his village the soldiers, with the townspeople, become engaged in an effort to prevent the Germans from blowing up a dam.

A number of different segments taken from 19th century Italian stories.