It was the third most popular Italian film during 1945-46 after Roberto Rossellini's Rome, Open City and Partenza ore 7, a comedy always directed by Mattoli.

He also meets the Professor, their new next-door neighbor who lost his wife and daughter in the bombings of Napoli.

Patrizia admits to Paolo that during the desperate war years, she prostituted herself to pay for medicine to keep Sandro alive.

The film was important in Giachetti's transition from one of the leading stars of the Fascist era into a figure acceptable to post-war audiences.

Alida Valli, also a celebrated Fascist period star, received a boost from the film and went to Hollywood the following year.