![]() You would be angry, confused and desperate to get it back. In real life if you job was taken from you, your first reaction would hardly be to let it go and take solace in the arms of your family hoping they would understand. Sure, he needs the bike to work in order to support them but at the end of the day regardless of whether or not he gets I back his family will still love him right? De Sica was clever in that he never pays much heed to this, mainly because he knew how cheesy it would be. Antonios vision becomes so singular that he fails to notice that his son and family are far more important possessions for him in his life. Another realistic point that De Sica makes is the obsession that consumes Antonio in the search for his bike. Everything aspect of this film, from the (non) actors to the on location use of the streets of Rome, film rings true. There is one shot towards the end of the film, where Antonio in a moment of sheer desperation commits a shocking act, one that is reflected in his young sons Brunos face. While cinema and literature will always deal with these ideas, the Bicycle Thieves is exceptional in its honesty. For a black and white film, the moral tones and themes are very grey. He must deal with suspects who commit crimes in order to survive and are trying to get the money to raise their families. In the wake of his bike being stolen, Antonio is pushed to the brink of despiar in a desperate, frantic hurry to get it back. Also, the fact that the story was so simple and relatable led to truthful reactions from the actors, this approach never would have worked in anything too far out of their own lives or experiences. Its the raw performances that give it such weight and suck you in. You can see their frustrations, guilt and honesty. This led to an exceptional performance from both. ![]() Lamberto Maggiorani and Enzo Staiola were both non-professional actors who were given the freedom to act as themselves and react to the situations as they honestly would. De Sica believed that the one role everyone could play perfectly is that of themselves. Italian Neo-Realism is a film style characterized by stories and themes set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using non-professional actors. Unfortunately one of the reasons behind the films popularity is that even now- 63 years later- its a still a situation that resonates in todays society. ![]() If he doesnt retrieve his bike he loses his job and wont be able to support his family. Set against the back drop of a post war, poverty stricken Italy, the film is as important as any other which present a struggle for survival. Its a simple story, but its the simplicity of it that make The Bicycle Thieves such a gripping drama. Together with his young son Bruno ( Enzo Staiola), they set off through the streets of Rome in search of the bike. The film follows Antonio Ricci (played by Lamberto Maggiorani) who finally gets a job delivering cinema posters only to have it threatened when a thief steals his bicycle. The Bicycle Thieves (or The Bicycle Thief as it is known in the US), for those who are not too familiar, was directed by Victorio De Sica and is often regarded as one the best foreign language films ever made and perhaps the greatest film to come out of the Italian Neo-Realism movement. Currently leaving theatres is A Better Life, the latest movie from director Chris Weitz, the man who brought us American Pie and Twilight: New Moon and tells the tale of a father who struggles to do whats right by his son and search for a stolen truck, is a loose remake of the classic 1948 Italian movie The Bicycle Thieves.
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