Bitter Rice
Seen it?1949 | 109 min | Drama, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- A natural pick for anyone drawn to the darker side of the street and anyone who loves a strong drama. Best on a quiet night when you're in the mood to feel something. A good follow-up to Sexy Beast or In Cold Blood. Critics like it more than audiences, which usually means it takes its time or takes risks.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Quiet, then quietly devastating, at 1 hr 49 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
- Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.
Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
Our audience score: 67%
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
Not enough engagement data yet
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Giuseppe De Santis
- Doris DowlingFrancesca
- Silvana ManganoSilvana
- Vittorio GassmanWalter
- Raf ValloneMarco
- Checco RissoneAristide
- Nico PepeBeppe
- Adriana SivieriCeleste
- Lia CorelliAmelia
- Maria Grazia FranciaGabriella
- Dedi RistoriAnna