Featured Audience Ratings

• Carlos M

  
  A wonderful gem of the Italian neorealism, very humorous and profoundly touching. The truest definition of a classic, not only for its indisputable importance as a cinematographic work but also for its poignant social statement - and it is never sentimental but forever honest,… More
  A wonderful gem of the Italian neorealism, very humorous and profoundly touching. The truest definition of a classic, not only for its indisputable importance as a cinematographic work but also for its poignant social statement - and it is never sentimental but forever honest, heartbreaking and essential.

• Josh M

  
  The Bicycle Thief (I prefer the singular) is one of the assumed classics that feel totally fresh and relevant from the first frame and don't need DVD commentary notes to explain it to a modern audience. It's a simple, perfect story that is gripping all the way through and… More
  The Bicycle Thief (I prefer the singular) is one of the assumed classics that feel totally fresh and relevant from the first frame and don't need DVD commentary notes to explain it to a modern audience. It's a simple, perfect story that is gripping all the way through and beautiful to look at in every shot. In post war Rome, a the patriarch of a poverty stricken family gets a job that requires a bicycle. On the first day on the job, the bike is stolen and Dad and his 8 year old son Bruno try to look for the culprit, which is a needle in the haystack of Rome's mean streets. On their search, they encounter homeless men in a church soup kitchen, a brothel, and a restaurant where the father and son are looked down on by snooty rich folks. That's it. The complexity is contained in the father/son relationship, which is loving, but presented with no sentimentality. The father is so obsessed with finding the bike, that he ignores his son, impatiently hits him, and comes dangerously close to losing him numerous times. He learns his lesson and reprioritizes in the end when his son becomes his savior and redeemer. The roles are filled by non actors. De Sica gets terrific performances out of all of them, especially the little round faced son. Though considered one of the landmarks of Italian neo-realism, this film does not feel like a gritty documentary. The shots are superbly composed, the film uses dramatic camera moves, including dolly shots, as well as a staged rain storm. The movement of people through the film is seamless and organic, yet almost balletic. The film is generous to all its characters, no one is a bad guy, they're all just rying to survive. I don't think I could ever get sick of this film. Its qualities have transcended the slightly Marxist intentions of its filmmakers and its setting to become something universal and timeless. The new Criterion collection remaster looks spectacular and nothing less should be screened. Enjoy.

• Jim H

  
  A working class man's bicycle, which is his sole means of transportation to his job, is stolen, and he embarks on a journey throughout Rome to recover it. Finally I've found a critically acclaimed Italian film in the neorealist movement that I thoroughly enjoyed. The scenes… More
  A working class man's bicycle, which is his sole means of transportation to his job, is stolen, and he embarks on a journey throughout Rome to recover it. Finally I've found a critically acclaimed Italian film in the neorealist movement that I thoroughly enjoyed. The scenes at the beginning that build up the bicycle's importance to Antonio's livelihood are perfect examples of how exposition is done well. I liked how poverty was portrayed as a quiet desperation and how it was obvious that this version of the proletariat weren't lazy assholes but strong, determined citizens. And the slow pan of stacked bedsheets, to which the Riccis' were added, demonstrated how poverty was a systemic problem. As Antonio embarks on recovering his bicycle, these themes are elaborated and developed with the same regard - privileging character and interpersonal conflict over politics. I thought that it would have been better if there were an innate aspect about Antonio, either his knowledge of the street or his deductive capabilities, that provided the leads he follows in recovering his bike; rather, all of his near-misses are the result of dumb luck. Part of this film's tragedy is Antonio's fall from grace, and if he had more admirable qualities, then I think it would've enhanced the film's conclusion. Overall, I really liked <i>The Bicycle Thief</I>, one of the few films of the Italian neorealist movement that has lived up to its hype.

• KJ P

  
  This film begins as a heartfelt journey of a family trying to finds jobs to keep food on the table for their family. He finds a job to support his family, but by doing so he must be able to afford a bike for travel. His wife helps by selling household items to buy the bike. Once it… More
  This film begins as a heartfelt journey of a family trying to finds jobs to keep food on the table for their family. He finds a job to support his family, but by doing so he must be able to afford a bike for travel. His wife helps by selling household items to buy the bike. Once it has been purchased he begins his career as a duty worker around the city. As some poor heartless man decides to steal his bike, he take his son and a couple other men who are willing to journey to find this horrible man. From amazingly written subtle moments, to hilarious comic relief when a scene becomes weary, "Bicycle Thieves" represents classical cinema in it's finest hour! This is easily one of the best father-son films I have ever seen and I am going to remember it forever!

• Bruce B

  
  Another Movie from The Criterion Collection , filmed in 1948, Spine Number 374. A super good film about a family in Italy trying to get by after the war while Italy is rebuilding and jobs are scare. Antonio takes a job as a poster hanger, to each site he must ride his bike and carry a… More
  Another Movie from The Criterion Collection , filmed in 1948, Spine Number 374. A super good film about a family in Italy trying to get by after the war while Italy is rebuilding and jobs are scare. Antonio takes a job as a poster hanger, to each site he must ride his bike and carry a step ladder and posters, while hanging a poster his bike is stolen, follow his journey as he tries to recover it. His young son maybe 10 years old in this film is a trip, his actions throughout the movie will make you smile. If your a film festival freak, don't miss this one. 4 stars.

• Jan Marc M

  
  Bicycle Thieves paves the story of an impoverished family and their quest for a stolen bicycle. Much has been said and written, but it is always worth the attention, the affirmation, and the exaggeration: one of world cinema's best.

• Dan S

  
  A depressing slice of Italian neo-realism, concerning a poverty stricken small town still recovering from the aftermath of WW2, specifically a man (Lamberto Maggiorani) trying to provide for his family after attaining a new job he uses a bicycle for - until that bicycle is stolen and… More
  A depressing slice of Italian neo-realism, concerning a poverty stricken small town still recovering from the aftermath of WW2, specifically a man (Lamberto Maggiorani) trying to provide for his family after attaining a new job he uses a bicycle for - until that bicycle is stolen and he must find it or lose his job and new-found life. As said, it is a hard film to watch due to the atmosphere of utter dread and depression that is difficult to ignore, and the feeling that nothing is going to improve is always on the horizon no matter how one attempts to look at a potential bright side. It does have some questionable acting (which is to be expected with a movie filled with first-timers - but still...) and there is a scene or two that seems kind of forced into place, but for the most part this is an outstanding, realistic, and simple film about a man trying to support his family. The camera-work gets everything right, the soundtrack hits all the right notes, and the fact that Maggiorani's Ricci is so flawed and on-edge during his entire ordeal is completely understandable and fantastically played by director Vittorio De Sica.

• Chris W

  
  This film is often cited as one of the quintessential works of the Neorealist movement, but man, even though this is a really top notch film, it's quite a bummer. The story concerns a poor unemployed man named Antonio Ricci who finally secures a job, but is told he must have a… More
  This film is often cited as one of the quintessential works of the Neorealist movement, but man, even though this is a really top notch film, it's quite a bummer. The story concerns a poor unemployed man named Antonio Ricci who finally secures a job, but is told he must have a bicycle for the job. His wife pawns off some of their sheets so he can use the money to reclaim his bike back from the pawnbroker. On the first day of the new job his bike is stolen while he's working, so Antonio spends the rest of the film desperately running all over Rome tryting to find the thief and reclaim his bike. This is a bleak film, and it doesn't paint a very uplifting portrait of post WWII life in Italy, but the portrait it does paint is at least honest and vivid. The fact that this is so beautifully photographed and wonderfully acted is why it is worth watching. As per being a neorealist film, this movie tells life like it is (or at least how it was in the late 1940s), and does so in a very unglamorous way. The actors are all nonactors, giving much more weight and authenticity to the proceedings. These performers do a great job, and you really wanna see Antonio get his bike back so he can resume tryng to make a better life for himself and his family. I loved the cinematography here, and even though what is shown is gritty and not the touristy side of Rome, it's hard not to become enthralled by what you're looking at, and everything just has an odd beauty to it that's very memorable. This film is "entertaining", but not in a summer blockbuster popcorn sort of way. It's a nice foreign art film, yet not really extremely out there or pretentious. Unlike some, I don't think this is one of the greatest films ever made, but I do highly recommend it.

• Drew S

  
  Expectedly bleak, but handsome and personal and a consummate example of subtle sociopolitcal storytelling in the arts. An excellent encapsulation of a sad place and time in history if ever there was one, Bicycle Thieves won't be to everyone's tastes, but its literacy and… More
  Expectedly bleak, but handsome and personal and a consummate example of subtle sociopolitcal storytelling in the arts. An excellent encapsulation of a sad place and time in history if ever there was one, Bicycle Thieves won't be to everyone's tastes, but its literacy and trust in its audience's knowledge of the capacities of film are what make it a classic.

• Michael G

  
  If I could sum up how I feel about The Bicycle Thieves in one line, it would either be "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here" or "Jesus Christ, how do you make it stop?" Spoiler alert or no, DO NOT look for a happy ending or even any fucking hope at all. Watching… More
  If I could sum up how I feel about The Bicycle Thieves in one line, it would either be "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here" or "Jesus Christ, how do you make it stop?" Spoiler alert or no, DO NOT look for a happy ending or even any fucking hope at all. Watching this movie is like being a human chew toy for an hour and a half. Its so goddamned brutal! I don't always need a happy ending, but I really needed it here. I was reminded of the one and only time I saw Requiem For a Dream while watching The Bicycle Thieves -- I was aware of its power and how great of a movie it is but I don't ever need to see it again. That movie scarred my brain, this one scarred my soul.

• AJ V

  
  This movie is always show as an example of Italian neo-realism because it is one of the best films of the genre. If you haven't seen this classic movie I highly recommend checking it out.

• Leigh R

  
  Very interesting tale...

• Tim S

  
  Brilliant, simple film by Vittorio De Sica. I was amazed how involved you get from the first frame on. I love the fact that the director used non actors in the roles and it made it just as involving. It takes real talent to bring out the amount of suspense from simple situations and… More
  Brilliant, simple film by Vittorio De Sica. I was amazed how involved you get from the first frame on. I love the fact that the director used non actors in the roles and it made it just as involving. It takes real talent to bring out the amount of suspense from simple situations and the ending is crushing. Beautiful cinematography.

• Anthony L

  
  Beautifully shot, with non-actors and a simple story. This is Neorealism at its best, a movement that today's cinema needs to remember! The relationship between father and son and the sheer desperation in this film really capture the essence of how tough times were back in… More
  Beautifully shot, with non-actors and a simple story. This is Neorealism at its best, a movement that today's cinema needs to remember! The relationship between father and son and the sheer desperation in this film really capture the essence of how tough times were back in post-war Italy. One of the greatest films ever made!

• Devon B

  
  The Bicycle Thief is an Italian slice-of-life film that pioneered the realistic, documentary style filmmaking later used in films like "The Little Fugitive" (and is indirectly responsible for the "shaky cam" films of today- The Hurt Locker and District 9 both owe a… More
  The Bicycle Thief is an Italian slice-of-life film that pioneered the realistic, documentary style filmmaking later used in films like "The Little Fugitive" (and is indirectly responsible for the "shaky cam" films of today- The Hurt Locker and District 9 both owe a huge debt to the Bicycle Thief). The story centers around an impoverished family who's unemployed father finds a job hanging advertising posters around town. The only requirement for this job is that he own a bicycle, so the family sells their good linen to get the bike out of the pawn shop. Tragedy strikes when the man's bike is stolen on the very first day of his job. He enlists his friends and his small son Bruno to help scour the town for the bike, and this is the main focus of the movie. When the father sees the bike thief talking to an old man, he chases the old man down, and questions him about the thief. But the old man is elusive, and manages to disappear without giving too much help. Every lead seems to disappear around the corner. The father's panic and anguish keep the film tense, and little Bruno steals every scene he's in as his hero worship for his father is put to the test. Such films of simple eloquence are rarely appreciated in modern times, especially in the era of big explosions, it's hard to get someone to notice a kid's difficulty in trying to eat a piece of bread with a knife and fork, or a group of german priests running for shelter during a sudden rainstorm. The ambiguous ending leaves the viewer to decide what is right and what is wrong, what is moral and just in an unjust world. It's a touching and fascinating glimpse into another world and another life, and as film, it deserves to be appreciated and seen.

• Randy T

  
  Dark, vexing & pessimistic. Vittorio De Sica's masterpiece is anything but uplifting. It's one of those rare films that simultaneously fascinate and dishearten. I loved it but, at the same time, it made me want to slit my wrists.

• danny d

  
  a simple but profound story that is part father/son story and part profile of the soul of a desperate man. there have certainly been more telling and detailed film searches of the human soul in the last 60 years, but this is still considered one of the great films of all time because… More
  a simple but profound story that is part father/son story and part profile of the soul of a desperate man. there have certainly been more telling and detailed film searches of the human soul in the last 60 years, but this is still considered one of the great films of all time because it was so transparent for its time. without some knowledge of foreign film the brilliance of this would be lost on most american movie fans, but this is a must watch for all serious movie fans.

• Pierluigi P

  
  The peak of italian neoralism. an incomparable masterpiece which explores the avatar of a poor family in the post war escenario. tears invaded my face the first time I saw it. and to this day still amazes me, how bitter, shocking and yet touching and beautiful this film is. one of the… More
  The peak of italian neoralism. an incomparable masterpiece which explores the avatar of a poor family in the post war escenario. tears invaded my face the first time I saw it. and to this day still amazes me, how bitter, shocking and yet touching and beautiful this film is. one of the most powerful endings in cinema history,

• Dillon L

  
  A very simple plot brought to impressive cinematic levels.

• Matthew R

  
  There are many diverse beliefs as to what makes a film good, what makes a film memorable. Every single person will you give you a different set of guidelines as to what separates the masterpieces from your typical, everyday film. In my opinion, one of the strongest necessities towards… More
  There are many diverse beliefs as to what makes a film good, what makes a film memorable. Every single person will you give you a different set of guidelines as to what separates the masterpieces from your typical, everyday film. In my opinion, one of the strongest necessities towards a really good movie is a fantastic ending. Good, even great films can be ruined or not as appreciated because of a mediocre or terrible ending. Some of the best films conclude on an extremely high note, finishes in a way that allows discussion, allows added praise, builds tears in your eyes, and/or continues providing laughter long after the credits start rolling. This classic unfortunately suffers from this fate; "The Bicycle Thief" is a grand look at post-World War II Italy that ends very abruptly. While on many people's minds it's one of the best films of all-time, in my opinion it's just fifteen minutes away from that title, and it was oh so close. However, one really can marvel at the cinematography, the realism, and the impact it's delivered to modern film-making. The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di Biciclette) follows a down-and-out man by the name of Antonio trying to recover his bike, which was stolen during a day at work. Taking his son Bruno, he goes on a long journey through the highs and lows of Italy as he tries to find his bike and the thief who took it. The movie runs deeper than a simple story of a man searching for a bike, this is also a look into the lives of citizens in a post-World War II world, in which poverty is widespread, and times are tough. People aren't very nice towards each other, there is hostility throughout, and nobody is willing to stick out their neck for anybody. There is no hero in this tale, just a string of flawed characters trying to survive. Even when the sympathy is aimed towards the main character, it quickly gets snatched away in certain instances when we see his dark side. The quality of this film can be largely attributed to the director, Vittorio De Sica. Using long shots of the city, long shots of the events occurring, the viewer is thrown into the world of injustice, poverty, and hardship. Sica also uses inexperienced actors that can relate to the situation taking place in the film. This decision not only adds a dosage of realism to the piece, but would also influence the later nitty-gritty street films of later decades. He doesn't toy much with the camera, which makes it less Hollywood and more documentary. The hand-held camera look that the movie delivers turns you not into an observer, but more as a witness. The dialogue is also realistic, as the words used throughout the movie remained short, simple, and sweet. There are two things that prevent this from being a golden masterpiece in my standards. First off, the film is just overly depressing from the beginning to the very end. While yes the subject matter is anything but happy, the movie piles sad moment after sad moment after sad moment at you. Sometimes, the sad moments weren't even necessary and come out of left field. If you are going to make a drama, at least throw in a few moments of temporary enlightenment, to allow the viewer time to breathe out the negativity. Plus, there's no need to add more drama and tension coming from other, minor characters that serve little importance into the plot. The second and major drawback is the ending. Few people criticize the ending here, but after following depression and unfortunate incidents for ninety minutes, one would hope for an ending that doesn't come out of nowhere. The ending not only abruptly happens, but also doesn't tie up all loose ends, and just leaves you with a bitter taste in your mouth. Don't want to dwell into details, but the climax and conclusion is supposed to flow like the end of a hill, not like a straight nosebleed dive, which is what happens in The Bicycle Thief. When spending a whole film looking for light at the end of the dark tunnel, you don't want to end the car ride still stuck in the tunnel. Okay, enough comparisons, allusions, and metaphors. In the end, "The Bicycle Thief" is yet another "classic" film that's forgiven for its flaws and setbacks and is considered leagues and mountains above the modern-day film. While yes this movie is good, influential, and a good cultural look at a certain time period in Italy, it's nowhere near perfect. Superb cinematography, editing, and dialogue are all marred because the director and screenwriters couldn't come up with a better way to finish this motion picture; it felt like they filmed a bit more of this and just sent an ax towards a random scene during the editing process. A good movie needs a strong ending, and this one couldn't finish on a strong note. It is worth a viewing, but it is not one you are going to keep on the shelves for years to come (well, not me anyways). Story: B+ Acting: B- Direction: B- Visuals: A Overall: B *** out of 4 stars

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