Aging is a scandal to utilitarian societies. That is why how we treat the aged is a marker for whether we truly believe in the intrinsic value of life. It is also why retirement or loss of work figures so prominently in films about the aged. To lose work is to lose a sense of purpose, even identity. Yes, the dog is the last possession that Umberto clings to, but it is also a reminder that he can love and be loved simply for being and not for his extrinsic value. -– Kenneth R. Morefield
- Directed by: Vittorio de Sica
- Produced by:
- Written by: Cesare Zavattini
- Music by:
- Cinematography by: G.R. Aldo
- Editing by:
- Release Date: 1952
- Running Time: 89
- Language: Italian
Arts & Faith Lists:
2019 Top 25 Films on Growing Older — #11