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Bicycle Thief, The

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by jules

"Brutally real and very sad. A very very good film."

It's sacrilege to call this a "movie" or "flick". It's the quintessential "film".

Okay, so I think calling this "The greatest film of all time" may be a bit too much, but it really is a great film. So damn sad! My wife was ready to break down sobbing and I was frightfully close as well by the time "Fine" came on the screen.

I'm sure artists, film makers, critics (real ones), etc. will say things like "the most important film of the modern post-war blah blah blah". I'm just a member of the audience, and don't have the saw-fist-y-cay-sion to understand how The Bicycle Thief fits into the history of film and how influencial it was, but I do know this is a great film, not to be missed.

To me the most shocking thing is that a bicycle, something we in our relatively affluent society consider so trivial, is so important, in fact possibly responsible for the difference between life and death for a family in post-war Italy. This is a supremely simple film, but don't let that word fool you. Simple, when done with such talent and taste, beats complex and overproduced any day.

I'm not going to go over the plot and spoil anything, not that it's a terribly suspenseful film. I didn't know much about it (except vague references to it in pompous film student circles when I was in school, most of whos members ended up doing two bit TV stuff or something alltogether different can you tell I'm bitter? and Woody Allen movies) and it's a very satisfying way to see it. It was fairly obvious that there was going to be no happy ending but there were suprises along the way.

Anyway, the direction is quite fabulous, and there are a lot of really great technical shots, dissolves, and framings (not that I would know what those are). The acting is very honest and real.

I suppose one could say this is the "Citizen Kane" of Italian cinema, but then, I wouldn't know since I'm a dumb member of the audience and have no idea what the Italian cinema is.

Hey, so now that I've seen it, does it mean I'm sophisticated and deep?

Bring on the pony-tailed, round glasses and scarf-wearing, know-it-all film students. I think I'm ready for them.

del.icio.us

link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=1272&reviewer=57
originally posted: 12/14/98 16:10:16

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User Comments

1/07/10 Stan Fos A Classic! 5 stars

12/30/08 Celia lewis so superb film 5 stars

5/30/08 PAUL SHORTT OUTSTANDING, PERHAPS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FILM OF ALL TIME 5 stars

1/25/08 Joseph deep movie. I enjoyed the father's lovely connection with his son. Deeply human movie. 5 stars

12/16/07 Mike Palombo gritty and sad. Tourists won't see this Rome. 4 stars

5/07/06 Puchi Absolutely beautiful 5 stars

1/09/06 raJU SHAH PATHETIC 1 stars

5/12/05 Pablo Antonio Fernández Deep 5 stars

10/27/04 Pete Okay, but a tad dull 3 stars

6/06/04 anthony sharp wow a film where a guy steals bikes AMAZING!!!!!!!! 5 stars

6/03/04 Angel Dull and depressing. 3 stars

11/03/03 R.W. Welch Proof that films can be starkly realistic and still captivating. 4 stars

4/09/03 Helen Edwards It is powerfully compelling and emotive, showing the reality of poverty in post-war Italy. 5 stars

9/29/01 sora Seah Must see 4 stars

8/09/01 Lily Torres Great 5 stars

3/08/01 mystik it is a great movie i am a fan of neo realism and it is perfect 5 stars

2/16/01 Terrie Smith De Sica's direction and Zavattini's screenplay have presented a gem; beautifully done. 5 stars

11/15/00 salvo toscano De Sica is the master of cinema's poetry 5 stars

8/30/00 Chris Drake Gritty masterpiece 5 stars

5/13/00 Elvisfan I know its unimaginable, but someone who lives & loves movies doesn't get the big deal here 4 stars

5/09/00 Mic Touching and simplistic. 4 stars

5/02/00 Jafet Israel This is one of the great films not only in the neorrealism`s history, even in the cinema`sh 5 stars

12/12/99 Cristina M. Ganzon actors are very realistic 5 stars

12/02/99 Kim, Jinsoo This was one of the best of the best film ever made!!! 5 stars

11/27/99 Mel really good, but soooo sad 5 stars

11/25/99 Stefania Bravissimo!!! 5 stars

2/18/99 Piz excellent film which is haunting in its simplicity. 5 stars

11/30/98 North Andrew Impress friends by saying you saw this great film. Refer to yourself as a "cineaste". 5 stars

11/10/98 Silent Rob One of the greatest films ever made. Truly dark depiction of life in post war Itlay. 5 stars

IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM, RATE IT!
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USA 02-Oct-1998 (NR) UK N/A Australia N/A

Directed by Vittorio De Sica Written by Vittorio De Sica Luigi Bartolini Cast Lamberto Maggiorani Enzo Stajola Lianella Carell Gino Saltamerenda Vittorio De Sica

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