I'm more than a little ashamed to admit that I had never seen Bicycle Thieves before yesterday. It's one of the most famous foreign films of all time and the best example of Italian neo-realism ever made. Now that I've seen it, the film is worthy of all the praise it has ever received. While the plot is very simple -- an unemployed man in post World War II Rome gets a job requiring a bicycle, the bicycle is stolen, the man and his son search for stolen bicycle -- it's also very, very powerful. The films emotional impact is devastating and it's level of realism is the complete opposite of what Hollywood movies were like during this time period. Everything from the non-professional actors to the cinematography and the overriding theme of social consciousness works to perfection. There's just not enough great things to say about Bicycle Thieves. I should have watched this movie years ago.
Rating: 5/5
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