The Tree of Wooden Clogs
A patient, compassionate portrait of poor farming families whose quiet sacrifices sustain a child's chance at education in nineteenth-century Italy.
Overview
A poignant tale of sacrifice and resilience in a rural Italian community.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Glacial
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- tender
- contemplative
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an immersive, humane, and formally accomplished portrait of peasant life rendered with extraordinary naturalism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film observes poor farming families, seasonal labor, domestic routines, and village life with an unembellished naturalistic style.
The family must choose between the boy's schooling and his labor, while the broken shoes create an immediate financial crisis.
Minec's long walk to school and his parents' decision to spare him from farm work make schooling the film's central emotional and practical investment.
Farm work, winter weather, village routines, and changing domestic activities structure the lives of the families.
Films like The Tree of Wooden Clogs, and why
The Land of Men
shared italian rural setting, patient naturalism, peasant community focus, and compassionate social observation
The Night of the Shooting Stars
shared historical rural poverty, family-centered drama, and neorealist attention to ordinary labor
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
shared contemplative pacing, village life, spiritual warmth, and close observation of working-class families
The Return
shared austere historical realism, rural community life, and intimate focus on poverty and dignity
Movie Details
- Director
- Ermanno Olmi
- Release Date
- 1978-09-21
- Runtime
- 187 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (241)
Cast
- Luigi Ornaghi
- Francesca Moriggi
- Omar Brignoli
- Antonio Ferrari
- Teresa Brescianini
- Giuseppe Brignoli
- Carlo Rota
- Pasqualina Brolis
- Massimo Fratus
- Francesca Villa
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Tree of Wooden Clogs about?
- A patient, compassionate portrait of poor farming families whose quiet sacrifices sustain a child's chance at education in nineteenth-century Italy.
- What is The Tree of Wooden Clogs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Tree of Wooden Clogs as glacial, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Tree of Wooden Clogs violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Tree of Wooden Clogs.
- What did critics think of The Tree of Wooden Clogs?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an immersive, humane, and formally accomplished portrait of peasant life rendered with extraordinary naturalism.
- Which films are like The Tree of Wooden Clogs?
- Films with a similar feel include The Land of Men, The Night of the Shooting Stars, The Gospel According to St. Matthew, and The Return.
- How long is The Tree of Wooden Clogs?
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs runs 187 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Tree of Wooden Clogs?
- In United States, The Tree of Wooden Clogs is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
