along a few week in northern italy and many woman leave their family and job and move to the rice field to work in the harvest of rice . the lover francesca ( doris dowling ) and walter ( vittorio gassman ) have just rob a valuable jewel from a hotel and and francesca join a group of worker while escape from the police . a silly and sensual worker and silvana ( silvana mangano ) and get close to francesca fascinate by the precious necklace she find hidden in francesca mattress . when they arrive to the lodge and they meet sergeant marco ( raf vallone ) and who be discharge the army and feel attract by silvana . a square of love be form with tragic consequence . riso amaro be an original neo realistic dramatic romance that present silvana mangano to the world and lead her to a position of star . she be extremely beautiful and sexy in the role of the peasant silvana and especially while dance with the handsome vittorio gassman . doris dowling be also excellent and perform the suffering francesca and a woman abuse by her scum lover . this movie be present in the fourth cannes festival and without award . my vote be eight . title ( brazil ) represent arroz amargo ( bitter rice ) .