Bitter Rice (1949)
Kernel Score: 85% · 224 TMDB ratings
Genres: Drama, Crime
Released: 1949-09-30
Runtime: 109 minutes
Where to watch Bitter Rice
- Stream: The Criterion Channel
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-11.
Overview
Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.
Bitter Rice parents' guide: ages 13+
Parents need to know that this Italian neorealist drama involves thieves, a suicide, and a tangled plot of robbery, love, and murder among rice field workers.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — The plot includes robbery, a suicide, and murder among the central characters.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Bitter Rice
If you liked Bitter Rice, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Read My Lips (2001) — 79%
- The Unforgivable (2021) — 84%
- Children of Paradise (1945) — 89%
- Mamma Roma (1962) — 88%
- Operation Y and Other Shurik's Adventures (1965) — 85%
- Above the Rim (1994) — 77%
- Miss Violence (2013) — 78%
- Heat (1995) — 89%
Director
Giuseppe De Santis
Cast
- Doris Dowling as Francesca
- Silvana Mangano as Silvana
- Vittorio Gassman as Walter
- Raf Vallone as Marco
- Checco Rissone as Aristide
- Nico Pepe as Beppe
- Adriana Sivieri as Celeste
- Lia Corelli as Amelia
- Maria Grazia Francia as Gabriella
- Dedi Ristori as Anna
Bitter Rice FAQ
Is Bitter Rice good?
Bitter Rice has an 85% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels, our own critic-informed editorial score.
Where can I watch Bitter Rice?
In the US you can stream Bitter Rice on The Criterion Channel and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Bitter Rice OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that this Italian neorealist drama involves thieves, a suicide, and a tangled plot of robbery, love, and murder among rice field workers.
What movies are like Bitter Rice?
If you liked Bitter Rice, try Read My Lips, The Unforgivable, Children of Paradise and Mamma Roma.