Zu neuem Leben

It's a rather typical post war melodrama but well made to propel the desired effects of great compassion and humanity. Her husband is lost in the war for six years and then comes home to find everything still intact, his family, his home, everything, but his wife Alida Valli has some second thoughts and a secret, and he can't guess anything about it, he doesn't even suspect any second story. And then suddenly one evening when she doesn't come home as she always used to, he learns that she is in prison for a homicide. He can't believe it. She confesses the whole story herself in full frankness to him, their tender son had a dangerous illness, and she had not money enough to pay for a necessary operation. So she accepted the only help she could get, which was to sell her body to someone who could manage all the expenses, and after the war he came back to her to force some extortion. So she had to kill him, and naturally the case was brought to court. The last word comes from an old faithful friend of the family, Eduardo de Filippo, who delivers a finer speech than any attorney of the court. Naturally all Italian hearts must melt to this eloquent exhibition of humanity, and the film was a great success, ensuring the confirmed continuation of Alida Valli's interesting and intriguing career.