Bitter Rice
“An earthy drama of human passions among women rice workers in the Po Valley.”
Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.
Where to watch Bitter Rice in India
Can I watch Bitter Rice in India? Bitter Rice isn't currently available to stream in India. Availability changes often — add it to your watchlist and check back.
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Click a service to open Bitter Rice there. Availability last verified on November 13, 2026.
Where is Bitter Rice streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store, YouTube |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, YouTube |
| France | Molotov TV, SFR Play | Orange VOD, Canal VOD, Amazon Video |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD | Amazon Video, FOD |
About Bitter Rice
Bitter Rice is a 1949 Italian-language drama and crime film directed by Giuseppe De Santis. The cast is led by Doris Dowling, Silvana Mangano, Vittorio Gassman. It has a runtime of 1h 49m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 200 ratings.
Bitter Rice was produced by Lux Film and made in Italy. It was released on September 30, 1949.
- Director
- Giuseppe De Santis
- Writers
- Giuseppe De Santis, Corrado Alvaro, Ivo Perilli
- Release date
- September 30, 1949
- Original language
- Italian
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Italy
- Production
- Lux Film
Bitter Rice cast & crew
Bitter Rice was directed by Giuseppe De Santis and written by Giuseppe De Santis, Corrado Alvaro, and Ivo Perilli.
The cast features Doris Dowling as Francesca, Silvana Mangano as Silvana, Vittorio Gassman as Walter, Raf Vallone as Marco, Checco Rissone as Aristide, and Nico Pepe as Beppe.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Goffredo Petrassi, cinematography is by Otello Martelli, and it was produced by Dino De Laurentiis.
Is Bitter Rice worth watching?
Bitter Rice holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 236 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 49m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and crime, Bitter Rice is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Bitter Rice
Bitter Rice isn't currently available on major streaming services in India. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect India today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Bitter Rice
Doris Dowling
Francesca
Silvana Mangano
Silvana
Vittorio Gassman
Walter
Raf Vallone
Marco
Checco Rissone
Aristide
Nico Pepe
Beppe
Adriana Sivieri
Celeste
Lia Corelli
Amelia
Maria Grazia Francia
Gabriella
Dedi Ristori
Anna
Anna Maestri
Irene
Mariemma Bardi
Gianna
Bitter Rice — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Bitter Rice in India?
Bitter Rice is not currently available on major streaming services in India. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸Where can I watch Bitter Rice in the US?
In the US, Bitter Rice is streaming on Criterion Channel, and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
▸What language is Bitter Rice in?
Bitter Rice is originally in Italian. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Bitter Rice?
Bitter Rice runs 1 hours 49 minutes (109 minutes).
▸What is Bitter Rice rated?
It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 236 ratings.
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