The Boom

In this biting comedy of manners, Italian director Vittorio De Sica skewers the excesses of Italy's 1950s economic boom, as a small-time contractor named Giovanni Alberti becomes embroiled in a desperate bid to save his marriage and reputation. When a wealthy couple offers him a lucrative deal - selling one of his eyes for a hefty sum of money - he agrees, but at the last minute, cold feet get the better of him. Will he find the courage to follow through on the deal, or will his desire to preserve his humanity win out? In this darkly comedic exploration of the human cost of ambition, De Sica pulls no punches in his portrayal of a society driven by greed and materialism.