Ante Up

A rare Italian mondo film from director Paolo Nuzzi.

Episodic journey of journalist Marcello who struggles to find his place in the world, torn between the allure of Rome's elite social scene and the stifling domesticity offered by his girlfriend, all the while searching for a way to become a serious writer.

Giovannino grows up and seeks his way, exemplary in his total and definitive absence of character. He lets himself be guided a little by everyone, without ever making a decision of his own free will. He first seduces the family servant, then runs away to Rome and tries to marry her unserious daughter to a boarding house owner. But her father arrives from Catania who distrusts her and arranges for him to marry a rich and lame girl.

Rome, 1957. A woman, Cabiria, is robbed and left to drown by her boyfriend, Giorgio. Rescued, she resumes her life and tries her best to find happiness in a cynical world. Even when she thinks her struggles are over and she has found happiness and contentment, things may not be what they seem.

When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

Aging small-time conman Augusto works with two younger men: Roberto, who desires to become the Italian Johnny Ray, and Carlo, nicknamed Picasso. Through a series of mishaps and personal entanglements, things go badly for Augusto.

A day in Rome viewed by sixteen different directors under the supervision of the great screenwriter Cesare Zavattini.