Director
Federico Fellini
Leading Actors/Actresses
Giulietta Masina, Francois Perier, Franca Marzi
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Dorian Gray, Amedeo Nazzari, Aldo Silvani
Genre
Drama
Language
Italian
Awards
Won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Date of Release
1957
Producer
Dino De Laurentiis
Setting and Context
Rome 1950s
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is that of Maria also known as "Cabiria."
Tone and Mood
Serious and Realistic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Maria Antagonist: Oscar, Giorgio
Major Conflict
Maria is a prostitute who dreams of a better life and believes she can have one, but puts all of her trust in the men she loves who throw her away and take her money.
Climax
Oscar, the man who has asked to marry Maria brings her to a cliff to murder her and take her money. She figures it out, gives him the money and he runs away.
Foreshadowing
During the magic show Maria is hypnotized. The show is stopped when she asks if it is real that this Oscar will actually love her.
Understatement
Fellini understates that Oscar is solely out to take Maria's money. We don't see it until the tone and setting completely change.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
n/a
Allusions
Fellini drastically changes the setting from a cliff-side view with Oscar and Maria to them being in the middle of the woods. This alludes to the danger that is forthcoming.
Paradox
The pimps and prostitutes ask for mercy and forgiveness for their sins but paradoxically they do nothing to make a change in their life.
Parallelism
Fellini parallels the ending where Oscar steals Maria's money with the opening scene where Giorgio has stolen her purse and pushed her into the water. Only this time the stakes are far higher.
