The Roof (1956 film)

Il Tetto (Italian title), known in English as The Roof, is a 1956 Italian neorealist drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of Luisa and Natale, a young, impoverished couple who are forced to build an illegal shack on the outskirts of Rome to have a place to live after finding themselves homeless and expecting their first child.

The film is characteristic of Italian neorealism in its focus on the lives of ordinary people, its use of non-professional actors, and its on-location shooting. It portrays the hardships faced by many Italians in the post-World War II era, including the struggle to find adequate housing and the challenges of poverty.

The Roof explores themes of love, poverty, social injustice, and the desperation of people trying to build a life for themselves under difficult circumstances. The film's title refers both literally to the physical structure the couple builds and metaphorically to the stability and security they seek.

The film was not without controversy upon its release, facing criticism for its depiction of illegal construction and its sympathetic portrayal of a couple living outside the law. However, it is now considered a significant work of Italian cinema and a powerful example of neorealist filmmaking.