June 3 is celebrated as World Bicycle Day. It reminds me of the Italian masterpiece, an honorary oscar winner- Bicycle Thieves although the movie is in no way related to the objectives of the UN Bicycle day celebration. Bicycle is used as a poetic device in this neo-realist movie to articulate the lives of the working-class struggle in post-war Italy. I watched it a long time back. And watching it was an unforgettable experience. The powerful images from the movie are still vivid in my memory.
Bicycle Thieves is a poignant tale of a man whose only means of subsistence is his bicycle. Only it gets stolen. The movie revolves around his desperate search for the thieves and how the turn of events influences his relationship with his little son who goes along with him on the forlorn expedition to locate the lost bicycle. The fervent desire of his son to find the bicycle stands out to watch. Impressive acting and brilliant cinematography carry you along with the narrative.
The movie is also an astute visual commentary on the aftermaths of war- how it renders people helplessly searching for a living, their struggle to support their families, emotional upheaval, its ruining effect on the economy, etc. It's an ordinary plot with an extraordinary appeal. Not surprising, it is voted greatest movie of all time in 1952 in an international poll by a British Magazine. The end is heartbroken and leaves one emotionally wondering about the father-son's fate.
Bicycle Thieves is a poignant tale of a man whose only means of subsistence is his bicycle. Only it gets stolen. The movie revolves around his desperate search for the thieves and how the turn of events influences his relationship with his little son who goes along with him on the forlorn expedition to locate the lost bicycle. The fervent desire of his son to find the bicycle stands out to watch. Impressive acting and brilliant cinematography carry you along with the narrative.
The movie is also an astute visual commentary on the aftermaths of war- how it renders people helplessly searching for a living, their struggle to support their families, emotional upheaval, its ruining effect on the economy, etc. It's an ordinary plot with an extraordinary appeal. Not surprising, it is voted greatest movie of all time in 1952 in an international poll by a British Magazine. The end is heartbroken and leaves one emotionally wondering about the father-son's fate.
