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CAST
SOPHIA LOREN
EMMA BARON
JEAN-PAUL BELMONDO
ELEONORA BROWN
BRUNA CEALTI
ANDREA CHCECCHI
ANTONELLA DELLA PORTA
PUPELLA MAGGIO
CARLO NINCHI
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY
ALBERTO MORAVIA
SCREENPLAY BY
CESARE ZAVATTINI
PRODUCED BY
CARLO PONTI
DIRECTED BY
VITTORIO DE SICA
GENRE
DRAMA
WAR
RATING
AUSTRALIA:M
UK:15
USA:NA
RUNNING TIME
100 MIN
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Pure Italian passion and melodrama at its finest, which is backed with depth and intelligence, Two Women features a blistering, sensual, and powerful lead performance from Sophia Loren.
Based during the last days of WWII, Two Women stars Sophia Loren as Cesira, a shop keeper who –along with her 13 year old daughter Rosetta (Eleonora Brown)- leaves the daily allied bombings of Rome for peace in her home village.
Protecting her daughter from the advances of undesirable men, Cesira tries to raise Rosetta to be a woman of respect and tradition, while also fighting off the advances of a young idealist named Michele (Jean-Paul Belmondo).
However, it does not take long for the war to reach her village, and for tragedy to come along with it.
Portraying a single mother whose sole obligation is to protect her daughter, Loren inhabits her character with strength, independence, and sexuality. As her daughter, Eleonora Brown is equally convincing as a symbol of innocence defiled by the war around her. French actor Jean Paul-Belmondo is also very good as the cynical, snobby intellectual Michele.
Director Vittorio De Sica does a great job drawing out these raw emotions from his actors, while also providing a strong commentary on the brutality of man. This is especially felt during the films tragic final act, which is captured magnificently in the closing image of a mother consulting her daughter.
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