Miracle in Milan (Miracolo A Milan)

Directed by Vittorio de Sica
Cast: Emma Gramatica, Francesco Golisano, Paolo Stoppa, Guglielmo Barnabò
1951

This fantasy tale tells of Totò, who is found in a cabbage patch and adopted by an old women named Lolotta. He later moves to an orphanage because Lolotta passes away.

The film moves forward to when he's eighteen years of age and Totò (Francesco Golisano) leaves the orphanage and begins to live in a shantytown in Milan.

Totò's organizational skills, learned at the orphanage and from Lolotta, brings structure to the colony and brings a sense of small happiness and well being among the depressed folk.

When Totò is given a magic dove by the ghost of his adoptive mother, he uses its powers to grant wishes to those who ask. The dove, however, is taken back by two angels who object to a mortal having possession of it.

The land where Totò's and his friends live is taken over by capitalists after oil is found there and they're all taken away to prison in horse-drawn paddy wagons. On the way to prison, however, a dove is returned to Totò and his wish for the freedom of his friends is granted. In a historical cinematic scene they escape into the sky, arguably to heaven, on brooms pinched from street sweepers in a town square.

Awards:

1951 Cannes Film Festival: Grand Prize of the Festival, Vittorio De Sica;
1951 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon; Best Production Design, Guido Fiorini
1951 New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award; Best Foreign Language Film, Italy;
1951 National Board of Review: National Board of Review Awards 1951, Best Foreign Films