The operatic heritage of the Italian cinema is ridden throughout this film. Despite a strong NeoRealist aesthetic, the essential plot of the film could easily be a Verdi or Puccini libretto.
Claudia Cardinale is so incredibly beautiful and fragile, she is reminiscent of Mimi or Madame Butterfly - even if she doesn’t meet quite as tragic an end.
Still this film manages to hit many of the key themes the Italian neo-realists cared about. Class, love, modernity vs tradition, the worship of money — all are explored with depth and clear eyed humanism.
A true classic of the form. And again Claudia Cardinale. I cannot think of anyone who ever looked better on screen. Maybe Grace Kelly. Maybe.