L'onorevole Angelina (1947)

In the Roman neighborhood of Pietralata, Angelina lives with her family and other families in dilapidated housing that Commendatore Garrone had built on his flood-prone land, taking advantage of state subsidies during the Fascist period. Through her noisy protests, Angelina becomes a champion of the poor: a strong woman who is never afraid to speak her mind, she fights black-market profiteers, manages to secure the distribution of pasta and a water supply, and gets the bus stop moved into the neighborhood. But after a violent flood leaves the neighborhood’s residents homeless, all the women, led by Angelina, decide to occupy the new buildings that Commendatore Garrone is having built nearby. Angelina’s husband, a police officer, is forced to arrest her, but fortunately Commendatore Garrone does not file a complaint and instead gives Angelina and her family a new home. The neighborhood’s other women elect Angelina as their representative and even want her to become a member of the Chamber of Deputies. Angelina persuades her companions to leave the buildings, certain that Commendatore Garrone will rent them apartments once construction is finished. But during a dinner at the Commendatore’s home, she realizes that the wealthy building contractor has deceived and manipulated her. Back in the neighborhood, she is challenged and insulted, so she tries to occupy the apartments again, but this time she ends up in prison. However, the Commendatore’s son, who is in love with Angelina’s daughter, convinces his father to honor his commitments, and the neighborhood’s residents will finally be able to have the new apartments. Angelina declares that from now on she will refuse any political role and returns to being a housewife, close to her husband and family.