Based on the autobiography of Gavino Ledda (Saverio Marconi), it tells the story of a boy born into abject poverty in rural Sardinia whose father (Omero Antonutti) intends that he will follow in his footsteps as a shepherd, ruthlessly cracking down (often violently) on the expression of any other interest, even something as fundamental as basic literacy. Ledda's eventual triumph over adversity is what gives this film its powerful human drama, but it's also one of the most riveting examples of the Tavianis' uncanny feeling for the poetry and potency of Italian landscapes, and their respect for all their characters' viewpoints, no matter how alien they might seem to modern sensibilities.
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