Whilst it is debatable whether Nights of Cabiria stands as strongly when viewed with a modern eye, it was well deserving of the Oscar it was awarded at the time, and it's certainly still a moving and interesting film. The almost ostracising Italian and mid 1900s culture pervading this world makes viewing mildly difficult to chew, and along with those those affronting and slightly discomfiting tentative shots, long, demanding looks at the camera and Signorina Cabiria's frankly… comic owl-like eyebrows it certainly doesn't feel like a modern film. The change and character of Cabiria is quite beautiful really (reflected also in the riddance and softening of those eyebrows, thank God) and this humanness carries to the modern viewer. It's slow all throughout, and the first hour or so is realistic, consistent with real life - some interesting snapshots, but mostly pointless and in the scheme of things, insignificant, happenings. It's not perfect, by any means, even grating or simply boring at times, but I was left with such a pretty feel that I couldn't move on without making a comment. The acting, old-fashioned shots, those terrible eyebrows, and how everyone yells at each other, these foreign interactions, were odd for me, part of the… not imperfection actually, but just experience I suppose. The character once again glows through, Cabiria is an unpolished gem, a human gem. I think it's worth a watch.

A happy, laughing Cabiria (Giulietta Masina) is standing on a river bank with her current boyfriend and live-in lover, Giorgio (Franco Fabrizi). Suddenly he pushes her into the river and steals her purse which is full of money. She cannot swim and nearly drowns, but is rescued by a group of young boys and revived at the last possible moment by helpful ordinary people who live a little further down the river. In spite of just saving her life, she treats them with disdain and starts looking for Giorgio.Cabiria returns to her small home, but Giorgio has disappeared. She is bitter, and when her best friend and neighbor, Wanda (Franca Marzi) tries to help her get over him, Cabiria shoos her away and remains disgruntled. She continues to ply her trade as a prostitute. One night, she is outside a fancy nightclub and witnesses a fight between famous movie star, Alberto Lazzari (Amedeo Nazzari) and his girlfriend, as she dumps him. The differences in appearance between the glamorous girlfriend, in a mink coat, and the disheveled and short Cabiria are stark. The jilted Lazzari takes the starstruck Cabiria to another club and then to his house, where Cabiria is astounded by its opulence. As the two are finally becoming closer after a rather standoffish few hours, Lazzari's girlfriend returns and Cabiria is shuffled off to the bathroom, unable to consummate with the movie star.

Cabiria is a prostitute in her 30s. Short and not as pretty as her colleagues either. She lost her parents when she was little so she was never educated or cultured and you can see all this in her character.The first scene shows her being pushed into a river by her boyfriend (pimp too I guess) who just wants to steal her handbag. She gets rescued by some kids and some local people but when she wakes up she absolutely doesn't care about them and is very rude and bad to them. She has had such a hard life, a life where people just use her, a life of no love or respect that most of her mind is just callous.But as we spend time with her, we slowly see that, just like anybody, she too just wants to be loved. But its subtle. She has been burned so many many times that trust is 'extremely' difficult for her.By the end of the movie, we will fall in love with her. You just want to hug her close, kiss her and tell her that she is truly loved for who she and that she will not be harmed. That is how good the acting by Giulietta Masina is (the story too). She has the most expressive eyes that I have seen on screen. If she was in Hollywood, she may have been one of the greatest actresses of all times! This movie is also not for everyone. Its a sort of slice-of-life of just one person, so it doesn't have a conclusive ending. Its not a, she lived happily ever after or she died or she achieved that, kind of movie. And you really need to be older, seen pain, understood the meaning of loneliness, what society is, what people want, etc., to see the heart and reason behind everything.Movie is on the levels of Tokyo Story, so do see it.

Federico Fellini's Masterpiece Le notti di Cabiria is about a young woman's odyssey,who is by the way a prostitute,throughout Rome.During this odd adventures she comes face to face with her dreams but she never accomplishes them.She in a nostalgic climate looks back when she was younger and more innocent.She is a human being who admires people who give love and are selflessness.In the end she gets charmed from one people like those and in her kindness she believe's him but him tragic conclusions.The trust that she shows to people throughout the film is the reason she gets deluded,but those characteristics make her,even she doesn't realize it one of those people she admires.The ending although it seems sad in total,the last taste that the audience takes is the view of a fighter,a human that looks everyone in the eyes and doesn't fear to show feelings to anyone.The movie might seem boring to some people but when they'll reach to the ending they will be remunerated.The ending climax and the landscape of one of the most dramatic scenes in cinema is outstanding.The viewer draws away from the happy turn the movie has gotten and is thrown for another time to cruelty of the world,but for another time people have to turn their backs to heartbreak and death and fight again.The viewer suffers with the character in a silent scene where both the actress and the director prove their talents.Summing up the movie is totally worth watching.Having a clear mind while watching it will help to get all the meanings many of which have escaped this review.Highlight of the film:The Ending.