The Bicycle Thief
The movie portrays the trials and tribulations of a working class man in post World War II Rome. The dialogues and the situations in the movie had no traces of any melodrama.Vittorio de Sica used non professional actors and produced cinematic excellence. The movie is considered to be a master piece of Neo-Realism by several critics.
The movie left and impact on the audiences because of how the director depicted the frustration of the working class man Antonio Ricci, when he couldn’t get a job and provide for his family. His desperation and tension could be seen after hopes of recovering his bicycle after it was stolen were fading away. It succeeded in telling the audience that desperation and frustration can drive a man to go to a psychic for advice, or to spend money on a meal he couldn’t afford, or even scolding his son or even attempt to steal.
Humour was used very well in between the moments of extreme tension. The humour also brought out the bond that existed between the Antonio and his son Bruno. Because of the name everybody guessed that Antonio’s bicycle was going to get stolen there was anxiety every time it was left unguarded .There were some scenes which are unforgettable like, when Antonio was tempted to steal an abandoned bicycle, or when Bruno falls and Antonio doesn’t even notice that.