Bicycle Thieves A Master Work of Reels that Revealed the Reality

Directed by Vittorio De Sica the Bicycle Thieves (The original Italian title is Ladri di biciclette) is an Italian neorealist drama film released in the year 1948 which was post 2nd world war. It was a story of a poor father (Antonio Ricci) searching for his stolen bike without which he can’t report to his work. His job was the only salvation thing to him.

The film starts with a heart-touching scene of a gathering of unemployed people. People in Italy were facing so much unemployment crisis post World War II It was depicted in a very realistic manner. Antonio’s wife sells her bed sheets which she got at her wedding to get her husband a bicycle so that he can report to the work which was offered by the employment council. Antonio reports to work and starts working on the streets posting posters on the streets. One day, while he was working on his bicycle, gets stolen by two people distracting his attention.

Antonio and his son Bruno searched for the thief all across the city to find him after lodging ca complain to Police which went in vain. Somehow both of them managed to get the clues, as well as the thief but the lack of evidence and people around the thief who supported him made Antonio helpless. Here the thieves are not portrayed as bad people but as victims of a corrupt society. Frustrated Antonio also goes to steal a bike where caught by the people around and threatened in front of his son Bruno which makes him embarrassed as well as makes the audience cry.

As it was an Italian neorealist drama film the scenes were shot in open places/ live locations instead of classical studio theory. The background music score was realistic and touches the audience. While searching for a stolen bike Antonio and Bruno were sitting in a restaurant where the small Bruno looks at a table where a rich family was enjoying fancy food that depicted the discrimination of wealth in society, here Antonio tells Bruno that “ All problems have a solution, except death” which shows his optimism towards life and his teaching to his son to not get pessimist in life.

Antonio also visits the Wise Lady's house to ask her where to find his stolen bike where his wife Maria visited with him earlier and he made a joke of her saying that all this stuff is superstitious. This shows that a person in frustration sometimes goes under circumstances where he gets hope in superstitious things. The film portrayed the realistic Italy in superior manner. A must watch film for all.

Prabhuling Totager