A rare opportunity to see five early documentary works by Zurlini, made before his transition to fiction filmmaking. Each evidences Zurlini's trademark approach of lovingly assembling offbeat details and observations into lyrical visions of postwar Italy. The Boxers (Pugilatori, 1952) covers several weeks in the lives of aspiring prize fighters. The Market of Faces (Il mercato delle facce, 1952) is shot in a waiting room for movie extras at Cinecittà. Soldiers in the City (Soldati in città, 1953) follows some young recruits on their first big leave outside Rome. Penny Serenade (Serenata da un soldo, 1953) focuses on the lives of street singers and musicians. And The Station (La stazione, 1953), an important early example of cinema verité, captures the life of a bustling train station.-Film Society of Lincoln Center