A working class man's bicycle, which is his sole means of transportation to his job, is stolen, and he embarks on a journey throughout Rome to recover it.Finally I've found a critically acclaimed Italian film in the neorealist movement that I thoroughly enjoyed. The scenes at the beginning that build up the bicycle's
importance to Antonio's livelihood are perfect examples of how exposition is done well. I liked how poverty was portrayed as a quiet desperation and how it was obvious that this version of the proletariat weren't lazy assholes but strong, determined citizens. And the slow pan of stacked bedsheets, to which the Riccis' were added, demonstrated how poverty was a systemic problem. As Antonio embarks on recovering his bicycle, these themes are elaborated and developed with the same regard - privileging character and interpersonal conflict over politics. I thought that it would have been better if there were an innate aspect about Antonio, either his knowledge of the street or his deductive capabilities, that provided the leads he follows in recovering his bike; rather, all of his near-misses are the result of dumb luck. Part of this film's tragedy is Antonio's fall from grace, and if he had more admirable qualities, then I think it would've enhanced the film's conclusion.Overall, I really liked The Bicycle Thief, one of the few films of the Italian neorealist movement that has lived up to its hype.
November 1, 2011
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