Vittorio De Sica would like to remind 1944’s Italy that they have kids, and kids learn from adults. Now he’s working in fascist Italy and if he says anything too drastic he’s going to get silenced, so he can’t say anuthing so overt that the fascists might pick up on it. So De Sica crafts a film that offers three pieces of advice while putting the lie to the “Italian family values” of the fascist party:

1. Don’t cheat on your spouse.
2. Don’t maybe commit suicide because your spouse cheated on you
3. 3 Don’t be a fascist or fascist sympathizer.

Ok, maybe the third one is subtle enough that the fascists didn’t pick up on it not because they’re dumb but because the just assumed no one would say that. Still it’s pretty clear.

We talk fascism and family values on Lost in Criterion this week as we cover The Children Are Watching Us. Listen at LostInCriterion.com or on iTunes, where you could maybe drop a review of us? While you're at it, maybe like us on Facebook? Or consider supporting us through Patreon. We'd appreciate it.