The Bicycle Thieves - A 1948 Movie is a 1948 Italian neorealist drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica

 

 

The Bicycle Thieves is available on YouTube with English Subtitles 

https://youtu.be/TVw2ctnL22M

The Film follows the story of a poor father searching in post-World War II Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which he will lose the job which was to be the salvation of his young family.

The film stars Lamberto Maggiorani as Antonio Ricci, a tram conductor who has been unemployed for months. He finally finds work posting political posters around the city, but he needs his bicycle to get to and from work. His wife, Maria (Lianella Carell), sells the family's bed linens to retrieve the bicycle from the pawnshop so he can take the job.

However, disaster strikes when Antonio's bicycle is stolen. He and his son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola), comb the city, growing increasingly desperate for justice. They encounter a number of obstacles, including indifference from the police, suspicion from the public, and the harsh realities of life in post-war Italy.

Bicycle Thieves is a powerful and moving film that explores the themes of poverty, desperation, and the human spirit. It is a classic of Italian neorealism, and it is considered one of the greatest films ever made.

The film was a critical and commercial success, and it won the Academy Honorary Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1950. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.

The Bicycle Thieves was filmed in the streets of Rome, depicted the poverty of post World War Two Italy. The actors were amateurs.

The acting is superb. Lamberto Maggiorani gives a tour-de-force performance as Antonio Ricci, and Enzo Staiola is heartbreaking as his son, Bruno.

The cinematography is stunning. The film was shot on location in post-war Rome, and the images capture the poverty and desperation of the city.

The story is powerful and moving. It is a story of hope, loss, and redemption.

The film is a classic of Italian neorealism. It is a film that is both realistic and poetic.

The Bicycle Thieves is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, it is cinema as High Art.