For the Korean TV show, see King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo

King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo

King of Baking, Kim Takgu , also spelled Takgoo, is a South Korean drama TV series broadcast on Korean Broadcasting System that aired after after Happiness in the Wind from June 9, 2010 to September 16, 2010...

.

Bread, Love and Dreams is a 1953 Italian romantic comedy film directed by Luigi Comencini

Luigi Comencini

Luigi Comencini was an Italian film director. Together with Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli, he was considered among the masters of the commedia all'italiana genre....

. At the 4th Berlin International Film Festival

4th Berlin International Film Festival

The 4th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 18 to June 29, 1954.-Films in competition:* Det stora äventyret by Arne Sucksdorff* Hobson's Choice by David Lean* Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa...

 it won the Silver Bear award.

Plot summary

Vittorio De Sica

Vittorio de Sica

Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....

 plays the middle-aged marshal

Marshal

Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...

 Antonio Carotenuto of the Carabinieri in a remote fictional Italian mountain village named Sagliena (actually the village of Castel San Pietro Romano

Castel San Pietro Romano

Castel San Pietro Romano is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 35 km east of Rome.-External links:*...

, in Lazio). He's anxious to marry, and selects young Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida

Gina Lollobrigida is an Italian actress, photojournalist and sculptress. She was one of the most popular European actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was also an iconic sex symbol of the 1950s. Today, she remains an active supporter of Italian and Italian American causes, particularly the...

 as his bride; but she is already in love with De Sica's shy subordinate Roberto Risso. Mistaking her headstrong behavior as promiscuity

Promiscuity

In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...

, De Sica makes advances towards her, but she spurns him. Forsaking the girl to the arms of Risso, De Sica decides to settle for village midwife Marisa Merlini. Things become more complicated when Annarella, the midwife, starts demonstrating her love to Antonio. She is hiding a secret and the Marshal soon will be in a difficult situation.

Overview and response

Pane, amore e fantasia is usually considered the most famous example of Pink neorealism.

The film contains what many critics regard as Gina Lollobrigida's best and most naturalistic

Naturalism (theatre)

Naturalism is a movement in European drama and theatre that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It refers to theatre that attempts to create a perfect illusion of reality through a range of dramatic and theatrical strategies: detailed, three-dimensional settings Naturalism is a...

 performance. The film's popularity resulted in two sequels, both with Lollobrigida: Pane, amore e gelosia (US title: Frisky) and the open-ended Pane, amore e... (English title: Scandal in Sorrento).

Main cast

• Vittorio De Sica
  Vittorio de Sica
  Vittorio De Sica was an Italian director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement....
  
   as Antonio Carotenuto
• Gina Lollobrigida
  Gina Lollobrigida
  Gina Lollobrigida is an Italian actress, photojournalist and sculptress. She was one of the most popular European actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was also an iconic sex symbol of the 1950s. Today, she remains an active supporter of Italian and Italian American causes, particularly the...
  
   as Maria De Ritis
• Marisa Merlini
  Marisa Merlini
  Marisa Merlini was an Italian character actress active in Italy's post-World War II cinema. Merlini appreared in over fifty films during her career, which spanned from World War II to 2005...
  
   as Annarella Mirziano
• Virgilio Riento
  Virgilio Riento
  Virgilio Riento was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 108 films between 1936 and 1959.He was born in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Sette giorni all'altro mondo * Il signor Max...
  
   as Don Emidio
• Tina Pica
  Tina Pica
  Tina Pica was an Italian supporting actress who played character roles on stage, Her debut on films was with Il cappello a tre punte when she was 50 years old...
  
   as Caramella
• Maria-Pia Casilio
  Maria-Pia Casilio
  Maria-Pia Casilio is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 35 films between 1952 and 1997. On the Criterion Collection DVD release of Umberto D. Vittoria de Sica comments she was a lucky charm to have her in his films....
  
   as Paoletta
• Roberto Risso as Pietro Stelluti
• Memmo Carotenuto
  Memmo Carotenuto
  Memmo Carotenuto was an Italian actor. He appeared in 125 films between 1941 and 1979.-Selected filmography:* Assassination in Rome * Male Companion * Ten Ready Rifles...
  
   as Sirio Baiocchi
• Vittoria Crispo as Maria Antonia De Ritis
• Guglielmo Barnabò
  Guglielmo Barnabò
  Guglielmo Barnabò was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 99 films between 1926 and 1954.He was born and died in Ancona, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Beauty of the World * Bad Subject...
  
  as Don Concezio