: The haunting, bittersweet musical score by Nino Rota is considered one of the most recognizable in film history and is essential to the movie's magical, circus-like atmosphere.
The film is a poignant tragedy that follows the journey of (played by Giulietta Masina), a wide-eyed and innocent young woman who is sold by her impoverished mother to a brutish traveling strongman named Zampanò (Anthony Quinn). La strada che scegli
You can find more detailed essays and historical context on the film at the Criterion Collection or Rotten Tomatoes . La Strada - Image Journal : The haunting, bittersweet musical score by Nino