Visconti's masterpiece of post-war Italian cinema is released on DVD to tie in with the British Film Institute's major retrospective of the director.

This haunting and beautiful portrayal of the tough life led by Sicilian fishermen tells the story of the Valestro family's struggle to escape poverty by buying their own boat, only to be exploited by unscrupulous businessmen. After the film's release the family publicly expressed their gratitude to Visconti for making their story known to the world.