Excellent presentation of the challenges faced by postwar Germans in a devastated 1947 world. In accordance with the tenets of Italian neo-realism, director Roberto ROSSELLINI presents a warts-'n'-all semi-documentary of a family’s struggle simply to stay alive on a daily basis. There is murder of those unable to work, pedophile predation, prostitution - and it remains to be seen what this does to the basic humanity of the hero - a young boy - struggling not only to survive but to comprehend the adult failings that brought about the near-destruction of Europe. Yet he is clearly still a child in the gigantic bomb-site through which he strolls in which there appears to be not single building untouched by bombs. This scenario clearly echoes its theme of childhood idealism damaged for good - with little possibly of ever achieving adult maturity.
Like Rome, Open City, this tells it like it is but not how it could be, and therein lies the problem. Yet the characters are vividly drawn and we can easily empathize with their plight.
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