Once upon a time a wise and kind old woman discovers a baby in her cabbage patch. She brings up the child and, when she dies, the boy, Totò, enters an orphanage. Totò leaves the orphanage a happy young man, and looks for work in post-war Milan. He ends up with the homeless and organizes them to build a shanty town in a vacant lot. But when greedy developers threaten the community’s land, Totò will need all the help he can get in order to find an impossible way out.
Directed by Vittorio De Sica
homeless person
based on novel or book
slum
magic
angel
milan
poverty
orphan
kindness
foundling
magic realism
shantytown
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.9 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Emma Gramatica
La vecchia Lolotta
Francesco Golisano
Totò
Paolo Stoppa
Rappi
Guglielmo Barnabò
Mobbi
Brunella Bovo
Edvige
Anna Carena
Marta, la signora altezzosa
Alba Arnova
La statua che prende vita
Virgilio Riento
Il sergente delle guardie
Arturo Bragaglia
Alfredo
Checco Rissone
Il comandante in secondo
Enzo Furlai
Egisto Olivieri
Crew
Vittorio De Sica
Director
Cesare Zavattini
Screenplay
Vittorio De Sica
Screenplay
Eraldo Da Roma
Editor
Vittorio De Sica
Producer
Cesare Zavattini
Story
Gianni Di Venanzo
Camera Operator
Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Co-Writer
Cesare Zavattini
Novel
Popular Reviews
35 reviews
Samuele
a milano un vetrinista può diventare molto grande, può diventare un re!
a milano un vetrinista può diventare molto grande, può diventare un re!
ReginaAle25
whimsy
whimsy
Devin Esser
9.0★ · 08/26/25
Criterion Collection Challenge #103.5
Miracle in Milan is Vittorio Di Sica's most masterfully created film he has made and when it comes to the aspect of camera work and cinematography this may be one of the single best films ever. Regardless of the film really succeeding in plot at points or feeling slightly tedious as the plot is fairly low to the ground every shot is just masterful. A film that is really lost in the spectacular filmography of Di Sica that I am so glad to have found and gotten to appreciate.
89.2/100
My Lists that include Miracle in Milan: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 RankedMy Top 25 Films of the 1950s4.5 stars comprehensive list and ranking.
Criterion Collection Challenge #103.5
Miracle in Milan is Vittorio Di Sica's most masterfully created film he has made and when it comes to the aspect of camera work and cinematography this may be one of the single best films ever. Regardless of the film really succeeding in plot at points or feeling slightly tedious as the plot is fairly low to the ground every shot is just masterful. A film that is really lost in the spectacular filmography of Di Sica that I am so glad to have found and gotten to appreciate.
89.2/100
My Lists that include Miracle in Milan: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 RankedMy Top 25 Films of the 1950s4.5 stars comprehensive list and ranking.
