Bicycle Thieves

Combining methods of traditional cinema as well as Neo-Realist elements, Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves attempts to shed light on the postwar poverty in Italy as well as the citizens who fought through it. Antonio’s search for his stolen bicycle may not be a believable endeavor, but the events of the film reveal avenues of empathy towards the lower class, and people who lash out in times of desperation. In contrast, Bicycle Thieves also exemplifies the consequences of such desperation, and how losing one’s way can drastically deteriorate relationships with family, friends, and oneself.