[Brecht]

Europa '51 (1952)



The representative of a big American company George Girard (Alexander Knox) and his wife Irene (Ingrid Bergman) are a wealthy couple living in post-war Rome. They're so preoccupied with their social status that their son Michele (Sandro Franchina) feels lonely and neglected. During one of the many parties hosted by the Girards, Michele attempts to kill himself. He is rushed to the hospital where the Girards are told by the doctors that their son will be alright. But Michele dies soon after from a blood clot. Irene falls into a deep depression, unable to leave her bed for 10 days. It is with the help of her Communist cousin Andrea Casatti (Ettore Giannini) that she begins to deal with her grief. He shows her the "other Rome", a city of the poor and unemployed and Irene begins to feel called to help, much to the chargin of her husband who is more concerned about his reputation than Irene.