Inspired by a true incident-the migration north of dispossessed Sicilian sulfur-mine workers, only to arrive practically frozen at the French border-The Way of Hope chronicles the harrowing trek of one such group from the white heat of the island that has frozen them out to the frigid but welcoming northern border with France. Along the way tensions erupt between Saro (Raf Vallone); Barbara (Elena Varzi), whom he loves; and the criminal Vanni (Franco Navarra). This early film has both a strong neorealist vision and a Fordian poetry, what Mario Sesti has called "a universe of angry visual power." But cowritten by Fellini and Pinelli, it also ventures into neorealism's realm of enchantment as these impoverished souls enter into "an unknown, fabulous landscape. Paralleling their mission of sheer survival, their discovery of the world makes their entire journey, first and foremost, an almost fantastic adventure" (Sesti). Nicholas Ray called this "the most lyrical film I've ever seen."