Umberto D.

This neorealist masterpiece by Vittorio De Sica (Bicycle Thieves) follows the daily life of an elderly pensioner as he struggles to make ends meet during Italy's postwar economic recovery. Alone except for his dog, Flike, Umberto is determined to maintain his dignity in a city where human kindness seems to have been swallowed up by the forces of modernization. His simple quest to satisfy his most fundamental needs-food, shelter, companionship-makes for one of the most heartbreaking stories ever filmed, and an essential classic of world cinema.