An early masterpiece in the neorealistic vein, reminding very much of Visconti but being more complex with more intensive and sensitive psychology - Maria Michi as the wife makes an impressive performance with overwhelming sensitivity, and it's impossible not to love her and understand her. The story is simple, the environment is the very basic docklands of Rome down the Tiber, where her husband runs a barge with related projects, and one of his employees is Amedeo Nazzari, who has had some problems with earlier employments. He is a bachelor and can't control himself when he meets the lovely young wife of his friend and employer. She tries to resist him, but a kiss becomes inevitable, he asks her to go with him to South America to a better life, and they actually embark on the escape from reality. Here the element of realism overtakes them, and although she never actually betrays her husband but turns back in the last moment, the avalanche of rumour and gossip involves fatal consequences. The acting is perfect, both Massimo Girotti in his passion and Amedeo Nazzari in his polite coolness are genuinely convincing, and Visconti couldn't have made it better. Adding to all this is a wonderful score by Enzo Masetti reaching Puccinian heights of pathos and beauty, and the script is also as outstanding as the cinematography. This is an early neorealistic masterpiece that should be joined to the others by Visconti, de Sica and others.
