The Way of the Game
We Just Watched a Movie - Umberto D.
Umberto D. this week.  Blade Runner next week.  As always, follow along on our iCheckMovies list, and be sure to let us know how you’d rank the movies in the comments below.
Umberto D. – January 20, 1952
Director:Â Vittorio De Sica
Producer: Angelo Rizzoli, Vittorio De Sica, Giuseppe Amato
Writers:Â Cesare Zavattini
Actors:Â Carlo Battisti, Maria-Pia Casillo, Lina Gennari, Ileana Simova, Elena Rea, Memmo Carotenuto
Distributor:Â Dear Film, Janus Films
The course of the conversation:
The episode starts all kinds of off the rails, but it gets better.
European black and white realism without the depression of Mouchette or The White Ribbon.
Does knowing that suicide is a theme of the film color the perception? Or does the genre already set that up?
Life sucks, but I got my dog.
There’s no beat-you-over-the-head message.
Umberto D. seems to seek more honest realism, rather than pessimism posing as realism.
Side-track into Superman.
Mouchette vs. Umberto D. — the lessons of maturity.
Side-track into Star Wars.
Gargantu-nun.
Side-track into E.T.
Jonathan rambles.
Michael discusses meaning.
Nathaniel defends his list.