The Railroad Man (1956)

 Pietro Germi's "The Railroad Man"


Pietro Germi was a Renaissance man of Italian cinema, working both behind and in front of the camera. One of his first notable films, 1956's "The Railroad Man" carried the tradition of Italian neo-realism and was a special mention at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Despite being known primarily for his Commedia all'italiana films, Germi churched out something far more in the realms of drama with "The Railroad Man." 

The film centers on a young boy who witnesses his family fracture after his alcoholic father loses his job as a train operator. In the spirit of neo-realism, the film's characters are trapped by economic circumstances that force them into personal decisions that cost them pieces of their humanity. 

The film is a neo-realist piece, but also primarily is a coming-of-age story. The protagonist spends the film trying to understand the adult landscape happening around him. What's interesting to note is that there are certain elements of the film that we the viewers understand that the little boy simply does not. The little boy doesn't understand the economic stress his family is under that is causing a majority of the conflict. Rather, he just sees the conflict as it is. The viewer, however, pieces together the external circumstances that are driving the characters to their breaking points. 

I liked "The Railroad Man" and feel as though it is a solid entry in Italian neo-realism. I don't consider it as lofty as the great films by De Sica, Fellini, Rossellini, or Visconti, but the filmmaking prowess is there. 



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