Poor Folk (film)

Poor Folk is a 1953 Italian drama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. It is also known under the alternative title Giuochi proibiti. The film is a melodrama, a genre particularly popular in Italian cinema during that period.

The film stars Amedeo Nazzari and Yvonne Sanson, frequently paired actors known for their roles in similar melodramatic films. The story centers on themes of poverty, social injustice, and the struggles faced by working-class families in post-war Italy. It explores the challenges of love and family life against a backdrop of economic hardship and societal prejudice.

Poor Folk is considered a representative example of Italian neorealist melodrama. While it draws upon some elements of neorealism in its depiction of social issues and realistic settings, it also incorporates elements of heightened emotion and dramatic narrative conventions typical of melodrama. It highlights the emotional toll of poverty and the sacrifices made by individuals for their loved ones. The film was successful in its time, contributing to the popularity of both Matarazzo as a director and Nazzari and Sanson as leading actors in the Italian film industry.