Nights of Cabiria

Prostitute Cabiria and her lover Giorgio chase each other through a field and to the river bank. Cabiria is pushed into the water and robbed of her purse and money. By-standers intervene and save her from drowning, their quick actions preventing a tragedy.

Cabiria returns to her small home to discover Giorgio has vanished. She grows bitter and distant, pushing away her best friend Wanda who tries to help her move on. The loss of Giorgio deepens her distrust and despair.

A fight erupts between the movie star Alberto Lazzari and his girlfriend, drawing Cabiria's attention. Lazzari invites her to a nearby club where they dance the mambo, and then returns to his opulent home. An intruding ex-girlfriend interrupts their moment, and Cabiria is told to wait in the bathroom while she imitates reconciliation through a keyhole.

The next day, a church procession passes by Cabiria and her friends and she feels pulled toward it. A truck-driving man offers her a ride home, tempting her with a chance for belonging. The moment marks a shift toward seeking something more meaningful in life.

Later that night, Cabiria sees a man giving food to the poor living in caves near her house. She is impressed and puzzled by his generosity, sensing a different kind of possibility in the world. The encounter plants a seed of hope that contrasts with her earlier losses.

The following day Cabiria attends a church mass and pleads to the Virgin Mary for a better life. She mourns the fact that her friends seem stuck in their old ways and deserves more than her current lot. The scene marks a turning point toward seeking real change.

At a magic show, the hypnotist drags Cabiria on stage and she playfully envisions marriage and happiness. The audience laughs at her expense, which fuels her anger. Outside, Oscar, a member of the audience, approaches and proposes that fate has brought them together.

After several meetings, Cabiria falls deeply in love with Oscar and agrees to marry within weeks. He becomes her partner in a whirlwind romance and she feels a sense of belonging she has not known before. The relationship shifts from curiosity to genuine feeling.

Cabiria sells her home and withdraws more than 700,000 lire as a dowry. She proudly shows the money to Oscar in a restaurant, and he advises her to keep it in the purse. The money becomes a tangible symbol of trust—and a potential target.

During a walk in a wooded area by a lake, Oscar grows distant and nervous. Cabiria realizes his intent is to push her over the cliff to steal the money. She throws the purse at his feet, begs him to kill her as he takes the cash and leaves.

Wounded and devastated, Cabiria collects herself and stumbles back toward town. The journey back is segued by her resolve to carry on despite the betrayal. The landscape reflects her emotional burden as she returns to civilization.

In the film's last sequence, a group of youths riding scooters and dancing forms an impromptu parade around Cabiria. She begins to smile at this moment of shared joy, but a single black tear traces down her cheek, hinting at lingering sorrow beneath the surface.