1946·Drama·1h 31m
7.2
★
Two shoeshine boys in postwar Rome, Italy save up to buy a horse, but their involvement as dupes in a burglary lands them in juvenile prison; the experience take a devastating toll on their friendship.
Directed by Vittorio De Sica
fortune teller
rome, italy
italy
black market
juvenile prison
orphan
juvenile delinquent
post world war ii
military police
shoeshine boy
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Franco Interlenghi
Pasquale Maggi
Emilio Cigoli
Staffera
Gino Saltamerenda
il Panza (uncredited)
Crew
Vittorio De Sica
Director
Cesare Zavattini
Screenplay
Cesare Zavattini
Story
Popular Reviews
47 reviews
Jack Siciliano
8.0★ · 02/05/26
The prison is so cool why don’t things look nice anymore
The prison is so cool why don’t things look nice anymore
Devin Esser
8.0★ · 08/23/25
Criterion Collection Challenge #1272
Shoeshine is the second film from De Sica that I have seen that promises simplicity and delivers something drastically different yet still very good. There is so much that goes into this plot surrounding the children in jail and the emotions of growing up in the climate the kids are thrown into in this film. There is certainly a very slow burning pace to this film that can loses you throughout but the pay off at the end after the kids make their escape is undeniably great filmmaking and storytelling.
85.7/100
My Lists that include Shoeshine: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 Ranked
Shoeshine is the second film from De Sica that I have seen that promises simplicity and delivers something drastically different yet still very good. There is so much that goes into this plot surrounding the children in jail and the emotions of growing up in the climate the kids are thrown into in this film. There is certainly a very slow burning pace to this film that can loses you throughout but the pay off at the end after the kids make their escape is undeniably great filmmaking and storytelling.
85.7/100
My Lists that include Shoeshine: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 Ranked
Criterion Collection Challenge #1272
Shoeshine is the second film from De Sica that I have seen that promises simplicity and delivers something drastically different yet still very good. There is so much that goes into this plot surrounding the children in jail and the emotions of growing up in the climate the kids are thrown into in this film. There is certainly a very slow burning pace to this film that can loses you throughout but the pay off at the end after the kids make their escape is undeniably great filmmaking and storytelling.
85.7/100
My Lists that include Shoeshine: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 Ranked
Shoeshine is the second film from De Sica that I have seen that promises simplicity and delivers something drastically different yet still very good. There is so much that goes into this plot surrounding the children in jail and the emotions of growing up in the climate the kids are thrown into in this film. There is certainly a very slow burning pace to this film that can loses you throughout but the pay off at the end after the kids make their escape is undeniably great filmmaking and storytelling.
85.7/100
My Lists that include Shoeshine: The Criterion Collection ChallengeEvery Film I watched in August 2025 Ranked
pao
9.7★ · 02/10/25
Dancer in the dark levels of tragedy. And I watched this in class… unending tears just for it to end abruptly and for the lights to turn on as I trudge out the door like what the fuck. Just Awful
Dancer in the dark levels of tragedy. And I watched this in class… unending tears just for it to end abruptly and for the lights to turn on as I trudge out the door like what the fuck. Just Awful
Natalia Gaytan
9.0★ · 02/08/25
broke my heart in a way only Los Olvidados has been able to before
broke my heart in a way only Los Olvidados has been able to before
Drew
3.7★ · 02/04/25
Craziest last five minutes of a movie I've seen in a while.
My roommates who weren’t watching were thoroughly invested in the happenings of Pasquale, Giuseppe, and the horse. Honestly the horse was the star of the show. Would have rated this higher if the entire film was as entertaining as most of its third act.
My roommates who weren’t watching were thoroughly invested in the happenings of Pasquale, Giuseppe, and the horse. Honestly the horse was the star of the show. Would have rated this higher if the entire film was as entertaining as most of its third act.
Craziest last five minutes of a movie I've seen in a while.
My roommates who weren’t watching were thoroughly invested in the happenings of Pasquale, Giuseppe, and the horse. Honestly the horse was the star of the show. Would have rated this higher if the entire film was as entertaining as most of its third act.
My roommates who weren’t watching were thoroughly invested in the happenings of Pasquale, Giuseppe, and the horse. Honestly the horse was the star of the show. Would have rated this higher if the entire film was as entertaining as most of its third act.