The Wide Blue Road

1957Movie1 h 43 minNR

80
GreatGoodWatch score

A deeply moving, tense drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout cinematography and world-building.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

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Story

Squarciò, a fisherman, lives with his family on a small island off the Dalmatian coast of Italy. Like his fellow villagers, Squarciò struggles against harsh living conditions, a scarcity of fish in nearby waters and exploitation by the local wholesaler. But while the other fishermen continue to use nets, he goes out to the open sea to fish illegally with bombs. But Squarciò borrows money, loses his boat, and in a moment of supreme desperation, has to bomb directly off-shore, causing the hatred and rejection of his fellow fishermen. Trying to save his family, Squarciò and his young sons sail their new boat out beyond the local waters and bomb-fish again. But this time, the sea exacts a terrible toll…

Feels like

  • Italian Neorealism
  • Tragic Family Drama
  • Coastal Poverty
  • Visually Stunning Sea Scapes
  • Social Injustice
  • Desperate Survival
  • Melancholic Tone
  • Classic European Cinema
  • Father-Son Bond

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Gillo Pontecorvo
Produced by
Maleno Malenotti
Music by
Carlo Franci

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 22, 1957 · 1 h 43 min · NR

Released
November 22, 1957
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
Italian
Made in
Germany, France, Italy, Serbia
Available in
4 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Wide Blue Road?"

Questions about The Wide Blue Road

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Wide Blue Road?

In the United States, The Wide Blue Road is free with ads on Kanopy. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is The Wide Blue Road worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 6.8 and Rotten Tomatoes 92%). Critics rate it higher (92 out of 100) than audiences (73).

Will I feel good after watching The Wide Blue Road?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is The Wide Blue Road plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Wide Blue Road in English?

Italian

No, it was made in Italian.