La donna del fiume

"Nives Mongolini" (Sophia Loren) lives alone in a small village in Italy and works at an eel processing factory during the day. Because she is easily the most beautiful woman around, her boss "Gino Lodi" (Rik Battaglia) is constantly making advances toward her but she rejects them because she doubts his true sincerity. Additionally, a local policeman named "Enzo Cinti" (Gerard Oury) also flirts with her but since she has no romantic feelings for him she dismisses his overtures as well. Then one day she lets her guard down and begins an affair with Gino which results in her becoming pregnant. Upon hearing this news Gino deserts her which crushes her emotionally and fills her with rage. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this movie is best seen by those who enjoy a heavy drama. Although some of the scenes moved rather slow I must admit that Sophia Loren looked quite fabulous and managed to carry this movie all by herself. Be that as it may, this film also goes by the alternate title of "Woman of the River" which might help those who cannot find it by its original name. Slightly above average.

Sophia Loren wants enough money for her home, and Rik Battaglia. But he's a bad man, and wants money to spend, spend spend. So when Miss Loren falls pregnant, he asks who the father is. She slaps him, informs on him, and while he is in prison plotting hs revenge, she escape to the Po River Valley to cut canes to support her and her son.

So here we are, five years after BITTER RICE, only in Technicolor and La Loren. There are signs of prosperity now, and so the plot is more convetnional, with Gérard Oury Gérard Oury offering honest love. That's not what Miss Loren wants, nor the audience. They want blood and death and to see Miss Loren in shorts.

This was the last of ten movies she appeared in in 1953. She would appear in 11 the following year, a hot film property who had not priced herself out of the marke for programmers.

In this film Sophia Loren was still very young and outrageously sensual, and no role could have been more suitable for her at that age than this one, where she has the opportunity to act out all her assets, both sensual, dramatic, gripping and tragic - her maturity is striking. It begins as a trivial comedy, she works in a fishing factory on the east coast, while most men are after her, especially the adventurous smuggler Gino, who proves risky. She resists him as long as possible, but the way he acts and uses force makes it impossible for her not to get caught in a trap of destiny.

The story unfolds in the great Italian neo-realistic fashion, the story could have been a subject for Vittorio de Sica or Visconti, the atmosphere is the same as in "Bicycle Thieves" and other down to earth Italian dramas at the time, and although you are sceptical at first, the drama will more and more overwhelm you. A policeman, who truly loves her, tries to save her, but instead he unintentionally only makes matters worse, and ultimately you will understand why she has to prefer the criminal to him.

But the greatest asset of the film is perhaps the location, the genuine environment among the fishermen on the east coast living in very basic conditions, their small Sunday pleasures at the dancing party, and the wonderful local people - this should actually be a classic

I saw this film as a very young girl and remember that it made a very lasting memory. I so much would like to see it on video to be able to view it once again. Sophia Loren was and is an extraordinary women. I hope she will continue making movies as she is a joy to watch.