Italian shopkeeper Sophia Loren flees her war-ravaged city with her frail teenage daughter for a neighboring village to stay with relatives, but on the journey home, their lives are cruelly disrupted when the woman and her child are cornered by lusty soldiers. Loren's character is sensual and maybe loose, but she's never insensitive and one immediately feels a connection with her (and you can't take your eyes off her when she's on-screen). This is a perceptive drama, not so much a document on the horrors of war as it is a testament to the human condition, both good and bad, weak and strong. There are some lovely art-house flourishes and bits of humor dotting the script, but the film doesn't have a gripping, lasting impact, it doesn't stay with you or haunt you the way a timeless drama should. Loren passionately emotes and won a well-deserved Oscar, but the other performances are just serviceable; she dominates the proceedings. **1/2 from ****
Review of Two Women
