Nights
of Cabiria is a film not so much concerned with the plot, and the series of
events that happen to the main character, Cabiria, but rather focuses on
what impact these events have had on her as a person. This film does not try to hide what Cabiria
is. She IS a prostitute. However, she is not the clichéd “prostitute
with a heart of gold." But she is a prostitute with a heart,
and unfortunately, it is often breaking, despite her outward efforts to
try and mask it.
You
cannot talk about Nights of Cabiria
without mentioning post-war Rome, which in and of itself is a character as
well. One scene in the film depicts a Good Samaritan bringing food, clothes and
supplies to many citizens left homeless from the ravages of war; all the while
Cabiria tries to seduce the clearly un-interested man in a "date." While one man tries to help others, Cabiria is
doing all she can to make her own way in this world.
Cabiria
is not without a sense of shame or pity however. This is evident in one of the final scenes
when she sells her humble little house to a needy family in one of the more
touching scenes in the film. And that is the point. Cabiria, despite her profession, is still a
woman of high moral character. Disappointment
after disappointment continues to rain down on her and yet she refuses to give
up. She refuses to feel sorry for
herself despite all that has happened. At the end of the film, after a completely
heartbreaking episode, she keeps her head held high and marches forward in a
beautifully shot final scene.
We
first see Cabiria walking by the lake with a lover, Giorgio, who steals her
purse, then throws her into the water.
It is a familiar pattern with Cabiria: men, who exploit her, then
abandon her. She is not morally
bankrupt, but deeply spiritual, extremely optimistic given her circumstances,
and trusting. She attempts to project an
image that she is confidently in control.
Yet, we see that she is a victim of circumstance. She resorts to prostitution as a means of
income in an economically depressed city.
She is duped by pilgrims professing to witness a miracle. She is denied an evening with a celebrity
when his girlfriend unexpectedly returns to reconcile.
The
imagery of water is a prevalent theme in Nights
of Cabiria. It is the symbol of
eternity. In Nights of Cabiria,
the film begins and ends with water. It
is an image that illustrates that life, itself, is as eternal as the human
condition. Water is also a symbol of
purification. Cabiria's soul remains
untainted, despite her profession. It is
a humanist idea that people are innately good, but forced by their
circumstances into acts of desperation.
The result is a powerful metaphor: a fusion of hope and misery,
perseverance and suffering.
--Rachel K.
While watching this film I noticed the use of the water theme as well, which you mention in this post. It seems as though water helps guide Cabiria to learn from her past and realize that the only person she truly needs is herself. She relies on others for change, but they always hurt her in the end. I think the water metaphor should be noted because two of the men she falls in love with either think about pushing her into water or they actually do it. At this time in her life I think Cabiria is lost. The water is there to signify that Cabiria has washed away the hurt from that man and is okay with the heartbreak she has been through. I definitely agree with you in saying that even though she has been through some rough conditions and hardships, she is optimistic and always hopes for the best. Even though she is partaking in a profession that is mainly frowned upon, her spirits are still high and she tries to make the best out of every situation. I like the last sentence of this post about how the water metaphor is powerful with a result of, "a fusion of hope and misery, perseverance and suffering." In the last scene of the movie, the water theme takes a turn from good to bad. This time water does not mean suffering, but perseverance to keep going even though something dreadful just happened. Behind her tears of misery spreads a smile of hope across her face. I think this gives viewers an understanding that everything is going to be alright for Cabiria and that she has found happiness within herself.
ReplyDelete- Allison Emery
As I watched this movie, I also noticed that Cabiria seems to be optimistic of her circumstances, and I do agree with you when you point out that she refuses to give up despite the situations that she continues to find herself caught in. However, I feel like she tries to hide how she truly feels from the rest of the world, and that’s why she comes off so prude. She uses her money as a source of happiness; notice that when she is being hypnotized she tells the hypnotist that she doesn’t need to be married because she is already well off with a house that has all of the bare necessities. I do not think that she does not live without a sense of shame or pity, and I think that going to Mass and asking for forgiveness and a change in her life is proof of that. This is also seen at the end of the movie where she is walking home and is caught in the middle of a parade, only to find herself smiling. I think that in this scene Cabiria has conformed to her surroundings and is yet again hiding how truly ashamed she feels about herself and how people always seem to be taking advantage of her. There were many scenes in the movie when Cabiria would start laughing then start crying, such as when she was talking to Albert about being an actor then as soon as she sat down him she lost all control. I feel like Cabiria just wants attention, and she uses either sadness or rudeness depending on the situation. She uses these emotions to mask how compassionate she can truly be, as it was seen when she hypnotized. In my opinion, she does not want people to perceive her as weak, and I think that this is somewhat ironic since she is a prostitute and prostitutes are taken advantage of. This is why Cabiria wants change, but she tells herself to be strong so that one day she actually can be.
ReplyDelete-Melissa Villanueva