ChikPapa Very disappointed :(

Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

Claire Dunne One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Bob Pr. I'm glad others like this so much -- many say it's the best film they've ever seen -- but it falls short of that for me. It's in the "neo-realistic Italian style" using "ordinary people" rather than trained actors which sometimes leads to more realistic films.Not for me in this case. To me, it seemed needlessly "jumpy" -- almost like its sequencing and development followed sort of a "comic strip" model in which actions are briefly portrayed followed by some later ones (or preceded by others), and it's up to the viewer/reader to fill in the gaps in the sequences and development. Also, I've had dogs for over half my long life and they've been very loving companions. While "Flike" (Umberto's dog) was a trained 'actor,' I NEVER saw the emotional reaction of genuine mutual love and affection that usually intermittently, spontaneously takes place between a man (or woman) and his/her dog. Trained obedience? Yes.Companions? Yes.Bosom buddies? No. No sign. Great story. Great plot.Execution? -- so-so.

SnoopyStyle Umberto D. Ferrari is an elderly retired government worker attending a demonstration. The police disperses the group. His landlady Antonia threatens to kick him out. He is a proud man and tries to sell his watch for the money. Maria is the friendly maid at the boarding house. She is pregnant by one of two soldiers but neither are willing to help. He is hospitalized for tonsillitis. When he gets out, Antonia is demolishing his room and she lets Flike escape. Umberto would end it all but he needs to find a place for Flike.I love the scene where he can't bring himself to beg for money but he lets Flike to beg with his hat. I like a lot about this movie but I find Umberto too bitter. It would so much better if he is the kindly old grandpa type. Maria is a bit too inexperienced to give the needed emotions. However it's poignant in so many other ways. His love for his dog and his isolation are both heart breaking.

jackasstrange Is a film that captures perfectly all the aspects of the retired, poor old man's life and his place in a miserable, dirty society. What happens in this film; the message it brings, can still be applied to MOST of today's societies, because unless if you are a millionaire, being old is a heavy weight, because no one cares about you. What really happens is the opposite: actually, everyone despises you. I like this kind of film, because while sad, depressing and all, is there to show us a truth that we often try to hide of, and this kind of film needs to exist to remind us that we might be the Umberto D. of tomorrow, so we, the people who got "the control" of the world, should be a bit more sensible and then respect the lifetime of these people who once contributed to the society with their hard work. About the film: I like the use of certain objects as metaphors (The old man selling a clock; as an example) and is much superior than the other neorealist films I've seen from Italy. Is very well crafted, very realistic. I just wished the acting _ of the entire cast_ was better. I thought the protagonist did good, but he's certainly not great at acting. I am aware of the fact that the neorealist directors preferred to cast amateurs instead of professional actors, and this was one of the weaknesses of their movement. My rating: *10/10 *

Jackson Booth-Millard From director Vittorio De Sica (Bicycle Thieves, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis), I knew nothing about this Italian film before I found it in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book, and I had no idea of the concept or plot before watching it, so it was going to be interesting to try. Basically elderly pensioner and retired civil servant Umberto Domenico Ferrari (Carlo Battisti) is taking part in a street demonstration held by other pensioners who are demanding an increase in their money, but the police clean the streets of the crowd, and all he can do is return to his cheap furnished room in a boarding house and his dog Flick. Umberto is threatened to be evicted from the house by the landlady Antonia Belloni (Lina Gennari) who is demanding the rent he owes, all he can do to make the money he needs is sell his books and his watch, he does not want to beg in the streets as he has his pride. He is not able to get a loan from any of his acquaintances as well, his only true friend is the boarding house servant and simple girl Maria (Maria Pia Casilio), she is pregnant with the baby of one of two soldiers, neither of them will admit they are the father. Umberto's financial difficulties are delayed more when he contracts a sore throat and is admitted to hospital, when he is allowed to leave he has a frantic search for Flick who has disappeared, he eventually locates him in a dog pound, but he is indeed evicted from the house and is now homeless. Umberto feeling at his lowest plans to kill himself, so he first wants to find a home for his dog, unable to do this he decides that his pet must die with him, and cuddled up together he stands in the path of an incoming train, but he cannot go through with suicide and moves away, so the film ends with Umberto and Flick just playing together in a park, reaffirming the love for his dog, and for life. Also starring Alberto Albani Barbieri as Fiancé and Elena Rea as Sister. The director said "the ideal film would be ninety minutes in the life of a man to whom nothing happens, that statement does almost seem true as not a lot happens, but the poignant moments definitely work well, with Battisti certainly giving a fantastic performance as the old man going into despair and attempting to fight it, he is supported by non professional actors, shot on location this film works really well as an observational piece of a man ostracised from the society he formerly helped secure, it is a watchable drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. Very good!