Gentle,tender,beautiful

Ahumanistmasterpiece.Thefilmiscertainlyagainstthedehumanizingaspectsofcorporatelife,butonehesitatestocallitaquot;protestquot;movie,likesomeofChaplinsrepertoire.Thereisnoexpressedanger,butwhatIseeasareasonable,controlledindignation,madepoignantbysympathyandsensibility.Olmisfilmsneverdisappoint.Histechnicalbackgroundgiveshimfineeyesforthesubtletyoflightandshadowinblack/whitecinematography.Histwobest-knownworks,quot;IlPostoquot;andquot;IlFidanzatiquot;,aretheepitomesofB/Waccomplishment.Thereisasweet,quietlyricisminOlmithatyoudontfindinotherItalianGreats,notevenindeSica.Maybethatiswhy,whenthefilmends,wearelefttocareandworryabouttheheroesandheroines,farbeyondtheirexistenceintheplot.Forinstance,Ikeepthinkingoftheboyclerk,ofwhatkindofmanhellgrowupas,andwonderingwhatkindofabridehelleventuallytake.Nootherdirectorhasthispowertomakethecastfeellikefamilytotheaudience.Butisntthatthemagicofthefilm?