A Man and His Dog

Umberto D. (1952) is perhaps the greatest example of Italian Neorealism. It is the story of an elderly pensioner trying to maintain his dignity as he sinks into hopeless debt and looming homelessness. He is utterly alone, with only his dog Flike and his heartless landlady's pregnant maid looking out for him. The bond between man and dog is central to this film, as is man's struggle for simple dignity in the modern world. Despite its subject matter, the film is not in the least bit sentimental; rather, it is like a documentary, which makes it all the more sorrowful.