84 of 1001 Movies: The Bicycle Thief (1948)

With no actors used who were in the business Vittorio De Sica puts together a movie that does draw enough emotion, and complications from the characters that you honestly can't even tell. In the theme of what is popular lately with films on the list it seems they tend to be a little more sad, and not as hopeful as other movies have been playing out. In a way Vidas Secas is very reminiscent of the story as far as the telling of an impoverished family showing the lengths that poverty has driven to, and just how drastically money can change their lives.

Antonio is trying to provide for his family, but the jobs aren't easy to find. He is told though that a job opening is available, but he must have a bicycle in order to be able to do the job. His family manages a way to come up with the money for one, but not long after a thief steals his bike while he is working. He is unable to stop him, but begins tracking where his bike might have been sold to. The more he searches the more desperate he becomes. Especially as his son Bruno follows along, and he has a constant reminder of the ones he needs to provide for.


Italian movies seem to focus a lot on family, and the hardships they face during certain parts in their history. There always very rich movies as far as story. The Bicycle Thieves isn't one of the most interesting plots in the world, but it does manage to tug at your feelings, and by the end you really feel bad for Antonio when it seems everyone, but his son is working against him. Everyone also can find it a bit relatable, as most of us have all had something happen to us that seemed like it would end the hope we had as far as making our lives more easy to maintain.

It's the little boy, his son, that balances us out, and keeps us able to sympathize with Antonio even when his tactics stoop to the same level of the man who done him wrong. At this point I think we are seeing something pivotal about the human nature. If it hadn't been for the little boy who sees his father at this point then we probably would our pity out the door. Seeing how hurt the little boy is to see his father at the bottom of being desperate sort of breaks the viewer as well.

The Bicycle Thief runs a little slow at times though. For the 1940s it has beautiful quality, but there are moments when searching for the bicycle just doesn't feel exciting. You more so wonder what will happen to the family after all this has passed, and sadly the ultimate question you want answered is one left with a bleak, and vague ending.

The Bicycle Thief centers on a common idea of family, and poverty that many foreign films seem to cover, giving you some insight on what it drives people to be like, and how in some cases it can bring families closer. This one isn't really different in that regard. Bruno is sort of the star character though as for a little boy he has a great range of emotions.

Rating 5 of 10