The Wide Blue Road

views updated

The Wide Blue Road ★★★ La Grande Strada Azzurra 1957

Neo-realist melodrama stars Montand as stubborn fisherman Squarcio, who lives with his family in a small village off the Adriatic Sea. Determined to support his family by any means, he scorns the nets used by his fellow fisherman and instead goes illegal dynamite fishing. Successful at first, this practice leads to tragedy for Squarcio and his family. Pontecorvo's debut film; Italian with subtitles. 99m/C VHS, DVD . IT Yves Montand, Alida Valli, Francesco Rabal, Frederica Ranchi, Ronaldo Bonacchi; D: Gillo Pontecorvo; W: Gillo Pontecorvo, Franco Solinas; C: Mario Montuori; M: Carlo Franci.