The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di Biciclette) (1948)

The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di Biciclette) (1948)

5 word summary

Losing more than a bike

During the Postwar depression in Italy unemployment is high. Antonito Ricci and his family are one of the many effected by this. Ricci finally lands a job hanging up posters but the only way he can have the job is if he has a bicycle. No bike no job. His wife sells some bed sheets to get his bicycle out of a pawn shop. Almost right away a man steals his bicycle while he is hanging a poster. Ricci chases after him but the thief is to fast and Ricci loses him. He tries to tell the police, they care but cant waste time on such a small crime, all they can do is get the bike if he finds it in a pawn shop. He begins a desperate search for his bike, and really his whole life. he knows that if he cannot find it he and his family will starve.

The Bicycle Thief is beautiful in many ways. Directing, cinematography, acting, writing, everything is almost perfect. Its deep and meaningful and thought provoking. There is so much hope and depression together in one film. The bicycle is more than just a bike to Antonito, its his life. Without the bike he can’t work, he can’t eat, or provide for his family at all, without it he can’t live.

****Spoilers****

With how depressing the film is you can’t help but think it’s going to have a happy ending. While it is depressing there’s that sense of hope that makes he think he will find the bike at the end. Near the end when you see Antonito on the corner with his son and he’s looking at the bikes you slowly see the desperation kicking in deep. In which I think is the best 30 seconds (give or take) in the film. The directing and acting in this scene is amazing. Watching him you can feel his desperation getting deeper and deeper, while he paces and looks back and forth between the single bike and the group of bikes.

When he steals the lone bike and makes a run for it everyone chases him down, which unfortunately didn’t happen when his bike was stolen. Dozens of men catch him and hold him until the bike owner comes over. Antonito’s son runs to him crying, the man sees he’s not just some criminal and says to let him go because he has enough problems. All the other men start yelling at Antonito saying he should thank God that he’s not going to jail because that’s where he belongs, and maybe he would prefer that.

As he walks away him and his son are destroyed, crying and holding hands. Antonito grips his sons hand tighter, he knows his life is over… and the film ends.

Its possibly one of the most depressing films I’ve ever seen, up there with Requiem for a Dream.

****end spoilers****

Its so powerful. Anyone who appreciates good old films shouldn’t miss this one. I know many people (especially younger ones) are against watching black and white or even foreign films, and if you skip watching this because of either of these reasons you are a fool.

10/10