Me after watching Nights of Cabiria: “Alexa…” *sniffle* “…play Radiohead’s Optimistic.”
Maria “Cabiria” Ceccarelli: She’s all talk. She’s explicitly sassy, unfiltered by default, and publicly acts like she’s got the whole world figured out. But underneath that makeup she’s really just someone who wishes to be in love; someone who yearns to terminate the loneliness that lingers inside of her. The desperation for partnership is a burden that skulks in every single individual, and while we may attempt to pretend like we are comfortable outside the world of romance, we secretly desire it more than anything else life has to offer. That is the nature of humans.
Sound cheesy? Maybe. Giulietta Masina’s iconic performance, that brilliantly insurgent conclusion, and its commentary on human optimism in a forever-grieving society, however? Compensates for ANY of my doubts! Fellini, I’m flabbergasted!
Verdict: A+
“Nights of Cabiria” is now available to stream on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, and The Criterion Channel.
Burning the Celluloid 
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