"The Bicycle Thief" (1948)

(Originally released as: Ladri di biciclette)

Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell

First, the Lowdown: It's the depression, Italian style.

Italy after the second world war was an economic shambles. The overthrow of the fascist regime, while on the whole a good thing, left the middle and working classes high and dry. Millions were without jobs and even more had lost faith in their government completely. It is here where we open our movie.

On the steps of the employment department, Antonio Ricci is given a job, on the proviso that he has a working bicycle. At first, Antonio is reluctant to take the job, because the bicycle is "broken", but after seeing the hundred-odd unemployed men who would be more than happy to do the job for him, Antonio accepts it. The job is for a poster hanger, which is why he needs a bicycle. After getting his uniform and allowance for the day, Antonio runs to a pawn shop to get his bicycle "fixed": out of hock.

The next morning, Antonio is ebullient, he no longer has to worry about how to provide for his wife and two children, things look brighter and better. A coworker trains him on hanging the posters and Antonio takes to his job with enthusiasm. While on his ladder hanging a poster, however, a street urchin steals Antonio's bicycle and flees in the crowded streets.

The rest of the picture is about Antonio's search for his missing bicycle. And here is where the movie gets brutally realistic. Accompanied by his son, Bruno, Antonio's quest becomes more and more desperate with every passing minute. For most of the film, Antonio spends a lot of time on his feet, and you can see the hopelessness of his position almost crushing him with every step.

The movie is beautifully dismal, executed with a realism that is neither preachy or melodramatic. I found myself sympathizing with Antonio's position quite a bit, having also been placed in a position where I worried about how I was going to feed my children, let alone took care of myself. Antonio's tragedy is played out with finesse and is never thickly laid.

Line of the movie: "There's a cure for everything except death." Antonio in a brief moment of optimism.

Five stars. Use only as directed.