La Strada (1954)

In the heart-wrenching tale of La Strada, Gelsomina, a delicate waif, is plucked from her quiet, sheltered life with her mother and three sisters. Her existence is irrevocably altered when her mother trades her for a meager 10,000 lire and a few kilos of food to Zampano, a muscular, traveling showman. Zampano, a man of few words and a harsh demeanor, exhibits his raw, primal strength by shattering chains wrapped around his potent chest, performing in quaint village squares to the awe of small but fascinated crowds. In this new chapter of her life, Gelsomina becomes an unwilling accomplice in Zampano's rough-and-tumble world. He introduces her to the pulsating rhythm of his show with a drum roll as her debut act. However, Zampano's unfeeling behavior casts a dark shadow over her new reality, and despite her earnest attempts, she struggles to adapt to his brutish ways. Their journey takes a significant turn when they cross paths with a small traveling circus. Here, they meet a tight-rope walker whose words stir a whirlwind of questions within Gelsomina, prompting her to reassess her choices. In the face of adversity, Gelsomina must grapple with her circumstances and find her own voice amidst the cacophony of her world. La Strada paints a poignant picture of a young woman's journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the quest for liberation amidst the rough landscapes of life with a traveling showman.

La Strada is a drama movie featuring Anthony Quinn.

La Strada is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel, Max and Max Amazon Channel.