What is La strada about?

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Released in 1954, La strada (The Road) is a film by Federico Fellini that returns to his interest in the world of showmen.1

The story centers on two main characters:
* Zampanò: A brutish, phoney itinerant strongman played by Anthony Quinn.
* Gelsomina: A waif-like woman played by Giulietta Masina who loves him.

The film was shot on desolate locations in Viterbo and Abruzzi. These bleak settings were intended to reflect the moral aridity of Zampanò’s character, which serves to highlight the sweet, forgiving nature of Gelsomina. The film was a commercial success and won an Academy Award for best foreign film, bolstered by a memorable theme song composed by Nino Rota.12