Mark Kermode reviews Bicycle Thieves | BFI Player

Mark Kermode celebrates Vittorio De Sica's neorealist masterpiece as an "unstoppable, freewheeling force of cinema" that continues to influence filmmakers and act as a standard-bearer of classic arthouse cinema.

[DCI-Frank-Burnside]

I tried explain to the arresting police officer that I was merely paying homage to post-war Italian neorealism!

[vespermartini]

I'll have to see it again. Saw it when I was young, but it's time to see it again. Viva Italia.

[Capgungoesbang]

I first saw this in one of my film classes a few years ago and loved it. Master of None did a nice little homage to it in their second season.

[tonyclifton]

the american english title, "the bicycle thief" is an outrageous mistranslation. the italian title is "bicycle thieves" and the whole point of the film is that there is more than one thief. yeesh!

[newbert]

The movie that I can’t watch anymore. It ripped my heart out.

[chrisjohnson]

I understand the films importance but it's never been one I'm very fond of.

[midlefinger]

I didnt like ending..great movie tho and so real, but ending?? What happened? Did he lose a job? I guess we ll never know

[nandakumarp]

💃🎥💃 WHEN EVERYTHING IS EXCHOSTED IN LIFE AND IF YOU ARE DESTINED TO LIVE BEYOND DEATH |•| DECENT PEOPLE MAY SLIGHTLY COMPROMISE ||•|| 💃🦚💃[[NANDAKUMAR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER LIC KALOOR ERNAKULAM]]

[imdbist]

Great movie but I fail to see what it has to do with the BRITISH Film Institute. Not got enough BRITISH films to comment on.

[ThirdEye]

The bicycle thieves (1948):

I am very interested in literature and Cinema and history and photography above all and I have watched numerous lectures and interviews and documentaries about photography and Cinema sometimes history and I came to know of a movement called Neo realism movement which started out in Italy and then went to France and out of that they were similar movements in other countries including the Indian art Cinema movement which tried to show films with realism and authenticity and sensitivity some of these nice films and stories have been grouped under the umbrella of something known as the criterion collection which public libraries here in Canada typically have and I have watched quite a few of those which I liked and there are too many so I watch the ones that I like when I can sometimes be fortunate to find something online like yesterday I found I found this one called Bicycle Thieves by an Italian director called Vittorio De Sica this is a 1948 film and it is about post war Italy and the conditions the hard times so this story is very briefly I've only watched so far maybe 10 minutes into it but I know of this film from cinematography and realism Cinema documentaries from those I know about this film but I haven't watched it but I know about it and last night I started to watch it so what this film is about is about obviously post-war Italy and the hard times so this man he goes to get employment as a laborer and one of the requirements for the job is having a bicycle to be able to come on time and do other things so when this guy he goes to apply for the job he's asked do you have a bicycle and he says well I don't have one but I can get one and he is told that the condition of the job is that you must have a bicycle and other others start saying that we have bicycles but he says your the skills I'm looking for are very specific so if you want this job you must have a bicycle and he said tomorrow I will come with the bicycle so obviously he doesn't have the bicycle and his wife find some linens and sheets from her dowry and she takes them to what seems to be a Pawn Broker and she is given discounted cash so he takes the money to some bicycle sellers to buy the bicycle and so this is how the story started the sad story of the man looking for employment and his wife selling her Dowry so that he can purchase a bicycle and I'm sure the bicycle is going to be stolen and this is what the film is about.

The best acting in this film is of the child the son of the man whose bicycle was stolen he's acting is so nice and his character is such a intelligent and mature and lovable character and he's almost playing it like a small Italian man.

1. But now analyzing it further look at this poster the one below in the top left corner the Academy awards icon is a yellow triangle.

2. Look at the man with the black trousers in the top left corner with the black trousers he has something like a goose-step

3. The man with a good step and the black trousers is kicking the child in the head this is the timing of the photo. This publicity poster has been chosen by a particular reason by specific people to convey a specific message they had unlimited choices but this is the one which was authorized.

4. In this publicity poster the man and his son with the caption below bicycle thieves are made to look like the bicycle thieves themselves but the reality is they are the victims they look, sitting down as though they have been arrested and handcuffed, yet these two are the victims.

[nandakumarp]

💃🎥💃 WHEN EVERYTHING IS EXCHOSTED IN LIFE AND IF YOU ARE DESTINED TO LIVE BEYOND DEATH |•| DECENT PEOPLE MAY SLIGHTLY COMPROMISE ||•|| 💃🦚💃[[NANDAKUMAR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER LIC KALOOR ERNAKULAM]]