La Strada is the story of Zampano, a traveling strongman, and Gelsomina, his innocent sidekick. Gelsomina is sold by her mother to Zampano to travel around and act with him. Gelsomina is quiet and naïve, so she agrees to leave her beloved home on the beach to go with Zampano and help her family. Gelsomina's life changes from relaxed and easy to difficult and cruel. Zampano treats Gelsomina like a slave, and she takes it nobly. Although she could leave him at any time, she chooses not to, and her friend the Fool convinces her that Zampano loves her. After Zampano kills the Fool out of anger, however, Gelsomina becomes unhappy and depressed. Zampano leaves her by the side of the road, and Gelsomina dies several years later in the home of a family who does not even know her name.

La Strada is one of the...