This is one of those movies where all characters are unpleasant to various degrees, starting from main character Giovanni Alberti, a pathetic man who got into debts to keep up with the Joneses. His wife is shallow and greedy and their "friends" are everything but, a bunch of envious hypocrites who spend their time trying to seduce each other's wives.
After having uselessly asked his "friends" to lend him money (and having been the object of their contempt) Giovanni finds the unlikely solution of his problems in selling one eye to a billionaire. Giovanni is convinced to proceed with the deal by a large amount of money, and the he organises the saddest party in history inviting his "friends" only to be able to spit out all his resentment.
De Sica probably wanted to show how the economic boom of the Sixties corrupted the Italians, and how the only "pure" people were those who didn't care about money, like Giovanni's parents (the only likeable people in the movie). Unfortunately, Italians where probably hypocrites, greedy and nasty even before and haven't changed since. Being Italian myself, I know what I am talking about.
Not a De Sica masterpiece, just a minor, unpleasant film made even more grating by the incongruously cheerful and very dated soundtrack, playing at the worst moment.
After having uselessly asked his "friends" to lend him money (and having been the object of their contempt) Giovanni finds the unlikely solution of his problems in selling one eye to a billionaire. Giovanni is convinced to proceed with the deal by a large amount of money, and the he organises the saddest party in history inviting his "friends" only to be able to spit out all his resentment.
De Sica probably wanted to show how the economic boom of the Sixties corrupted the Italians, and how the only "pure" people were those who didn't care about money, like Giovanni's parents (the only likeable people in the movie). Unfortunately, Italians where probably hypocrites, greedy and nasty even before and haven't changed since. Being Italian myself, I know what I am talking about.
Not a De Sica masterpiece, just a minor, unpleasant film made even more grating by the incongruously cheerful and very dated soundtrack, playing at the worst moment.