NIghts of Cabiria (Le Notti di Cabiria) is a moody 1957 film that follows a hopeful prostitute through the post-war streets of Rome as she desperately searches true love. The film is arguably Federico Felliini's (8 1/2, La Dolce Vita, Juliet of the Spirits, I Vitelloni) best film to date. Cabiria (Giulietta Masina) struggles to survive in an impoverished and barren neighborhood of the city. Day and night she solicits her services across town, making only enough money to buy food. She is surprisingly sane and comfortable with the lifestyle she has chosen for herself. By wearing a large, metaphorical shield of armor, she chugs along, despite the ways in which her work, and her customers, demean her sense of self worth. Sadly, misfortune surrounds Cabiria, who won't shy away from her dreams despite how increasingly terrible her circumstances become. Giulietta Masina's portrayal is absolutely breathtaking - originally trained as a mime, she is able to express much more with her face than by dialogue. Nights of Cabiria won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film; Giulietta Masina took home the Cannes Award for Best Actress in 1957. Nights of Cabiria is a film everyone should see at least once.moreless