O Drama da Linha Branca

THE WHITE LINE ("Cuori senza frontiere") is a minor classic of neorealism which takes place in the year 1947 when a small village on the Yugoslav border near Trieste is cut in half by a white chalk line and a barrier to designate the new frontier decided upon by the victorious giants of World War II. The original title means "Hearts without Borders". All this turns friend against friend, brother against brother. The film is a kind of parable for the political divisions that so sadly persist to our day. The saddest commentary made by the film deals with the impact the forced division has upon the children of the area, playmates who learn hatred that leads to violence. The adult performers are Gina Lollobrigida and Raf Vallone. The large cast of children includes the remarkable Enzo Staiola, the wonderful kid known to us from De Sica's BICYCLE THIEF. Luigi Zampa, who gave us the memorable TO LIVE IN PEACE, directed.