Life as a circus is the theme of Fellini's tragi-comic road movie. Gelsomina, a naive simpleton, is sold to strongman Zampano, whose brutish behaviour becomes increasingly evident as they tour through the desolation that is post-war Italy. Despite the pessimism of much of the story, Fellini has already moved far from his roots in neo-realism and symbols, metaphors and larger-than-life performances hold sway, and moments of bizarre if inconsequential charm abound. Sad, sentimental and simply stunning.