Vittorio de Sica started his career as an actor, causing a sensation both on stage and in a series of Italian comedies, before moving behind the camera. He began directing in 1940 and went on to make more than thirty films, most of which are now considered classics of Italian neorrealism. Among the most noteworthy are: Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan, 1951), Umberto D (1952), Stazione Termini (Terminal Station, 1953), La ciociara (Two Women ,1960) or I Girasoli (Sunflower, 1970). In 1974 he competed in San Sebastian’s Official Selection with his last film, Il viaggio (The Voyage), for which Sophia Loren received the Silver Shell for Best Actress. Considered one of the best films ever, Ladri di biciclette won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1949.