Sciuscià (Shoe Shine) (Shoe-Shine) poster & wallpaper
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Pacifico Astrologo, Franco Interlenghi, Antonio Carlino, Bruno Ortensi, Aniello Mele ... see more see more... , Emilio Cigoli , Angelo D'Amico , Francesco de Nicola , Enrico de Silva , Antonio Lo Nigro , Gino Saltamerenda , Rinaldo Smerdoni

Vittorio DeSica's Shoeshine (Sciuscia) is a must-see example of Italian neorealist cinema, ranking with such other neorealist classics as DeSica's Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Umberto D. (1952) and Robe... read more read more...rto Rossellini's Rome, Open City (1945). Using nonprofessional actors, DeSica and co-screenwriter Cesare Zavattini, also one of neorealism's leading figures, paint an uncompromising picture of the lives of Italian street children abandoned by their parents at the end of World War II. The film concentrates on two such children, Giuseppe (Rinaldo Smerdoni) and Pasquale (Franco Interlenghi). With no one else to turn to, the boys form a solid friendship, as well as a "corporation" of sorts: they eke out a living shining the boots of American GIs. The boys' hope for a rosier future is manifested in their dreams of owning a beautiful white horse. This, along with all their other aspirations, is eradicated when the boys are inadvertently shipped off to a reformatory. A failure in Italy (director DeSica noted that postwar Italian audiences preferred the glossy escapism emanating from Hollywood), Shoeshine was a huge success worldwide, as well as the winner of a special Academy Awards. Like Bicycle Thieves, it combines DeSica's frequent focus on children with his emphasis on post-war social problems. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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88% liked it

850 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Vittorio De Sica

Release Date: April 27, 1946

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DVD Release Date: May 17, 2011

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Stats: 63 reviews

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Giovanni and Pasquale Giovanni and Pasquale 'Sciuscià' 'Sciuscià'
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Flixster Reviews (63)

  • arashxak
    July 21, 2008
    arashxak
    Nearly as great as The Bicycle Thief, Highly recommended
  • gator681
    May 5, 2012
    gator681
    In "Shoe Shine," Pasquale(Franco Interlenghi) and Giuseppe(Rinaldo Smordoni) are two boys in postwar Italy who work a variety of odd jobs in order to save up to buy a horse. One of those jobs involves selling American blankets to a psychic(Maria Campi). While there, the boys be... read morecome unintentionally part of a robbery that also ends up giving them enough cash for their horse. The bad news is that this also brings them to the attention of the police who put them in juvenile prison in hopes of getting the names of their adult confederates out of them.

    "Shoe Shine" is a very moving, yet also occasionally playful, film that also contains a very serious message. If, Bill Hicks notwithstanding, you feel that children are the future(and I think that's why a psychic is involved in the story), then the film makes an excellent case for the authorities squandering Italy's future by treating its orphan children so poorly in jailing and punishing so many, instead of trying to care for them. This is at a time when children were forced to grow up too quickly, anyway, while not being educated in any meaningful way. At least, Pasquale and Giuseppe have an eye on their future by buying a horse as an investment, and not just to ride on.
  • fb1142797643
    August 12, 2011
    fb1142797643
    The film's title is somewhat misleading, suggesting a tale of shoeshine boys scraping out a living in the streets. Actually, that's just the exposition -- at its core, this is a tragedy about two boys who bond via a horse, and then are divided by a reformatory. The score is too u... read morensubtle at times, but the black and white cinematography is exquisite. The untrained young actors are quite affecting, and if you have a soft spot for crying children (and who doesn't?), grab some Kleenex beforehand.
  • dukeakasmudge
    November 22, 2011
    dukeakasmudge
    Usually I avoid any & all old B/W foreign films but after reading the description I thought this movie was gonna be awesome.It wasn't awesome but it was an OK movie.The 1st half made it seem like juvenile hall was a nice place to be, A place to make new friends & be with old 1s.W... read morehat really spoiled this movie is that it really never picked up until the last 20 minutes & what's even worse was the ending

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Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
August 13, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

When viewed today seems to be in need of a buffing. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 14, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Vittorio De Sica's second film was the first major success of the neorealistic movement and the first film to win the Best Foreign Language Oscar. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
December 7, 2002
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

Shoeshine's tragedy evolves from the overall environment and system as much as it does from the individual choices the boys make. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

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April 14, 2008
New York Times

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Dave Kehr
January 10, 2004
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

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Carol Cling
August 22, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Rumsey Taylor
April 4, 2011
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

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Stephen Tropiano
January 24, 2003
Stephen Tropiano, PopMatters

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Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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