Due soldi di speranza

Castellani let it rip with this one! The movie's a riot — but a thoroughly enjoyable one.

Carmela, the daughter of a well-to-do village fireworks manufacturer, relentlessly pursues Antonio, the returned soldier son, now unemployed, of a less than honest poor village woman.

Finally, of course love triumphs... but it's a rocky road to get there! Slowly Antonio is wooed — and when he is, he's resolute — but then they face the reluctance of both sets of parents to their match — and Antonio's sister's indiscretion with another wealthy landowner doesn't help.

I was exhausted by the end with all the shrieking, weeping, chastising and emotional swinging.

The movie is beautifully filmed. Some of the editing is a little rough. The direction improves as the movie goes along. Nino Rota gives us a taste of how his musical gift will develop in subsequent years.