The Italian Neo-realist film Umberto D directed by Vittorio De Sica follows the life of elderly Umberto Domenico Ferrari, a pensioner struggling to get by on reduced pensions post World War II. Following the aftermath of major tragedy and suffering, such as the war that Umberto lived through, hope can be hard to find. Society is a web of dependence. Individuals rely on the government to provide a support structure of benefits and protection. They count on each other for love and validation. When one strand of the web collapses, disaster can result. In this case, the government let Umberto down by not providing his pension. His life tilts on the edge, but the dependence of his dog brings it back into balance. Umberto D shows how humans are social by nature and even when society has wronged them they require a social connection for their physical and mental well-being. Italian Neo-realist films address the social and political realities of …show more content…
At certain points throughout the movie, he tries to step in as a father figure for her. He asks her if she has done her grammar assignment. When she responds no he replies, “Everyone takes advantage of the ignorant.” Umberto also promises to talk to the two soldiers who one of which she suspects may be the father to get them to them to take responsibility. Maria does return the relationship, she trusts him enough that he is the only one she tells that she is pregnant and does not know who the father is and she agrees to watch Flike while he is in the hospital, however; when one of the nuns at the hospital asks Umberto is Maria is his daughter he jokingly responds yes but she is quick to say no. She leaves soon after. Isolation brings these two together, but their relationship doesn’t go much deeper than that and Maria has too many of her own issues to fully be there for Umberto. The only constant presence in Umberto’s life is his dog