The Bicycle Thief is an Italian Neorealism film about Post WWII Italy. It tells the story of Antonio Ricci, played by Lamberto Maggiorani, and his struggle to pull himself and his family out of poverty (IMBD). Ricci, like thousands of others in Rome in the late 40's, needs work and finds a job hanging posters. Having a bicycle is crucial to keeping this job. Because he pawnded his bicycle to feed his family, his wife, Maria, must hock the sheets to get the money to retrieve the bicycle. Tragically, on his very first day, the bicycle is stolen, delivering a brutal blow to his family's already precarious position. The film tells the story of Ricci's hunt for the bicycle, the desperation of what it represents to his family's well-being, and the hard tests one is faced with while trying to beat poverty when life seems more an obstacle than anything else. Though this isn't a typical Hollywood film with an entertaining plot, contrived set, and professional actors, The Bicycle Thief is a heart-breaking tale of survival that applies to our current society, earning a spot as a masterpiece in cinematic history.
As the perfect example of Italian Neorealism, The Bicycle Thief has many jarring differences to the average Hollywood narrative. One glaring difference is the lack of glamour seen in Hollywood films. This film is set in the poorest tenements in Rome. This isn't the tourist Italy filled with fashion and art and food. This is poverty - dirty, gritty, and real. Another thing that sets this film apart from Hollywood is that there are no professional actors in it (Ebert). The stunning roles we see on the screen are remarkable in that they're played by real people that were cast off the street. This creates an amazing sense of real emotion because the people in this film have lived this poverty and desperation. A great example is the scene where Ricci watches a game with his son, Bruno, near the end of the film. Ricci breaks down in tears because he doesn't know what he can do to save his family. This scene is so powerfully felt that I can't imagine many dry eyes have seen it.
Another theme of American classical films is that if you work hard and live a moral life, then good things will happen to you. You'll achieve your dreams. However, if you break the law, or live an immoral life, bad things will result. This isn't seen in The Bicycle Thief. There isn't a sense of justice for the people in this film. When Ricci does catch the thief that took his bicycle, the police come but don't believe him. The force him to leave. Justice is not carried out, and the immoral thief is rewarded by getting to keep the bicycle.
Finally, we come to closure. In Hollywood films, the plot nicely wraps itself up by the end of the film, leaving us with a sense of closure and few, if any, loose ends. The Bicycle Thief doesn't give us a sense of closure at all. Rather, it leaves us with questions and a sense of discomfort. The film makes a powerful political statement about the haves and the have-nots and the unequal distribution of wealth in that time. This resonates today in our current decline of socio-economic position.
This film is nothing less than a masterpiece. I will surely recommend it to any film lover I know, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to see it. The simple, powerful plot, the incredible acting, and the timeless statements about our world that if makes have earned it the honor of being voted as the most loved film of all time and I completely agree (Ebert).
References
Ebert, Roger. "The Bicycle Thief". Retrieved from
Internet Movie Data Base - IMBD. "Bicycle Thieves". Retrieved from
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