director vittorio de sica eschew the neo realism that define his early work and take a more poetic approach with this story about a wealthy and privilege family who shut themselves away from the encroach threat of fascism in the early day of wwii italy . they ultimately find that their elite status do not protect them from the fascist threat and and the quietly devastate end show the family be separate and perhaps forever and a they be round up and herd into line like so much cattle . the end make this film memorable and but everything proceed it strike me a rather lightweight and give the subject matter . this isn not a movie i think back on a a masterpiece and and i think it reputation rest somewhat on the fact that de sica and a respect master and direct it . grade represent b plus .