I find director Vittorio de Sica and screenwriters Sergio Amidei, Adolfo Franci, Cesare Giulio Viola, and Cesare Zavattini's Sciuscià / Shoeshine just as touching and effective a social commentary as de Sica's better-known The Bicycle Thief.
Released in 1946, Shoeshine spotlights the plight of two boys (Franco Interlenghi, who remains active to this day, and Rinaldo Smordoni) attempting to eke out a living in ravaged, post-World War II Italy. (The Italian title refers to the way the boys pronounce the English-language word "shoeshine" when talking to their potential clients, American servicemen.)
Also, Shoeshine has a special place in film history as the first film to win a best foreign-language film Academy Award. (At the time, it was a "special award"; there were no nominees.)
Clip posted by Cinesuper8mm.