Bicycle Thief -- The Italian Classic

This Italian classic movie was on my "must-see" list for a long time. Finally managed to see the original Italian version (Ladri di biciclette - with english sub-titles) last week.

Its a fine example of how a simple story can be portrayed so poignantly and powerfully on-screen. The ending is quite shocking ( a bit unexpected) and conveys the pragmatism of today's world and how a man's search for self dignity is full of obstacles and such a difficult path to tread.

The movie is set in post-war italy which is strife with unemployment. A simple,honest man needs a bicycle for a new job, ( Pasting posters on the wall) that he has managed to obtain amidst hardship. His loving wife pawns their bed-sheets to raise money to buy the bicycle (a must have if he wants the job). The Bicycle gets stolen by a thief and how the Man and his Son search for it in the alleys of Rome forms the rest of the story.

The relationship and exchanges between the Father and the Son (small boy) is a classical exploration of a cobweb of Self-dignity,pride, anger and love. If you love serious world cinema, don't miss this movie. Its Black & white but that doesn't take any sheen away from its glory.