Feb 10, 2007 05:14 PM
1802 Views
Vittorio De Sica's heartbreaking motion picture ‘The Bicycle Thief’ denotes the struggles and joy, which are an integral part of our lives. Ever since the raise of Italian cinema, it reflected reality; it portrayed life as seen, and dwelled into the socio-psycho analytics of common men and women, and society by large. Arguably the best film ever made, which topped the lists for years, until Citizen Kane overtook its status, but nonetheless if you ask anyone who’d seen this film, would outlaw any other film. It is one the pioneer films that set the Italian neo-realistic movement into motion.
The film spotlights the post-war Rome where people are undergoing the reverberations caused by the war, and to find a job is as good as finding a gold mine. Paralysed by poverty, Antonio Ricci(played by Lamberto Maggiorani) is a man struck by poverty, driven to the wits of life is in desperate need for a job in order to support his wife and two children. One day, he is called ahead from a group of anxious men in the employment office and is offered a job as a poster-hanger, but the job demands a bicycle.
He accepts the job, though his bicycle is shelved in a pawnbroker’s shop, which he had pledged long ago to support the demanding needs of his family. On hearing this, his wife decides to trade their bed-sheets in order to redeem the bicycle. The following morning, Ricci, and his son, Bruno set out to work and it certainly appeared to be a promising platform for a better future to the family. Disaster strikes when Ricci’s bicycle gets stolen on his first day at work. He is perplexed and runs after the thief, but his pursuit ends in vain. The police take his complaint, but offer no assistance in finding his bicycle; instead they insist that he finds it himself. This depicts the social distress faced by the working class people amidst the depriving economy of the post-war era, where people under the poverty line were considered irrational. He approaches his friend, Baiocco for help. He suggests that the bicycle would have been sold at the ‘Piazza Vittorio’ and promises to help him out. A gruelling search on the streets of Rome instigates, and follows a series of events, as Ricci and his son scour the streets for the bicycle. Will they succeed in their search… I guess you have to go and find that out.
The movie explores the human psyche and plays with the audience minds. It engages you so immensely; you become an integral part of the plight of the character, sometimes wondering what would you do if caught in a situation similar to that and questions ethical and acts of dissoluteness out of desperation. ‘Bicycle Thief’ is a candid portrayal of the struggle for life and self-respect of a man anguished by a cruel society, sprinkled with moments of glee and grief. The film is embellished with brilliant cinematography and dramatic musical score. It received an honorary Oscar for best foreign film.
Overall, it’s a story about how a father appears in the eyes of a valiant and loving son, a story of optimism, and one that gallantly looks at everyday life in a blatant way.
I would love to write much more about the movie, but I guess a beautiful experience is better left for others to enjoy it themselves, than merely putting them by words….
