“Bicycle Thieves” is an Italian neorealism film released in 1948. Set in Rome after World War II, the film follows a father and a son wandering around the city trying to find their stolen bicycle. The film is critically acclaimed for multiple reasons and was truly revolutionary for the time. Even though it is 77 years old, it still holds up to this day.
To the average monolingual American viewer, “Bicycle Thieves” might be overwhelming. A black and white, non-English language film that is older than some people’s grandmothers does not sound as much fun as watching “Superbad” with friends. However, one does not really watch “Bicycle Thieves” to be cheaply entertained, but rather to become one with the narrative.
From the second the film starts, the viewer is immersed in the world of the main characters. The audience is introduced to Antonio, a poor man, his wife, Maria, and his son, Bruno, who is desperately seeking a job to support them. Once landing the job, he is told that he must own a bicycle for the position. After selling his bed sheets to purchase the bicycle, Antonio falls victim to a thief, losing the bike. The rest of the film is Antonio and his son, Bruno, tracking down the bike, and Antonio becoming neglectful of his son due to his obsession with maintaining his job.
The film does an amazing job at making us sympathise with Antonio, and viewers begin to understand why he makes the choices he makes. Sometimes the choices may seem morally wrong, but his motivations become clearer throughout the film.
From beginning to end, this film is engaging, heartbreaking, thought-provoking and in some moments “laugh out loud” funny. Although the medium has evolved so much from when this film was released, “Bicycle Thieves” is still a beautiful film that holds up to this day. It is truly a piece of timeless art that is a must-watch for any film lover who desires to know more about film history.
Check out “Bicycle Thieves” at the Slab Cinema Arthouse, located at 134 Blue Star, on Friday Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at slabcinemaarthouse.com.
