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Jul 15, 2016lukasevansherman rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Italian title: "Riso Amaro" English title: "Bitter Rice" Virtually every major Italian filmmaker of the first half of the 20th century was either part of the neorealist movement or influenced by it. Favoring realistic stories, shooting on location, the working class, and non-professionals, it offered up a new kind of cinema that bypassed Hollywood glamour and aimed for something more authentic and political. "Bitter Rice," from 1949 is a newly discovered gem, thanks to a DVD release by Criterion, who has put out myriad great Italian films. Set among women rice workers in Northern Italy, it's both deeply rooted in the struggles of the poor women and in crime melodrama. Mostly director Giueseppe De Santis and screenwriter Carlo Lizaani, who is interviewed for one of the special features, mostly succeed in balancing the two elements. Breakthrough star Silvana Mangano is both earthy and sensual and anchors the film, even though the other three lead performances are strong as well. It could be accused of romanticizing the proletariat, but, hey, don't they deserve a little romance too? I'd also recommend "Shoeshine," "Bicycle Thieves," Rossellini's war trilogy, and "Il Posto." Really any of the Italian films released by Criterion are worthwhile.