Two Women is the semi-neorealist account
of widow Cesira and her teenaged daughter, Rosetta, as they
struggle to survive in war-ravaged Italy.
A conventional romantic triangle between mother, daughter,
and Michele, is barely under way when the war rears its ugly
head once more.
Seeking shelter in a bombed-out church, Cesira and Rosetta
are attacked and raped, a horrifying sequence, capped by a
freeze-frame close-up of Rosetta, her face a taut mask of
terror.
Once they've recovered from this appalling experience, mother
and daughter are offered a ride back to Rome by friendly truck
driver Florindo.
Though Cesira had hoped to keep her daughter from compromising
herself as a means of survival, she is crushed to discover
that Rosetta has given herself to the truck driver in exchange
for a pair of stockings.
When Cesira and Rosetta finally reconcile, it is a grievous
occasion, mourning the death of their mutual love, Michele.
Cast:
Sophia Loren, Robert Loggia, Leonardo Ferrantini, Dario Ghirardi,
Carla Calò, Tommy Givogre, Paolo Merosi, Carlo Monni,
Andrea Occhipinti, Sydney Penny, Ilza Prestinari, Pino Quartullo
Director:
Dino Risi
Writers:
Alberto Moravia (novel)
Diana Gould (teleplay) |
