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Neo-realism is one my favourite genres right now and The Bicycle Thieves is like the poster-film of the mentioned genre. It's a true classic and one of the greatest in simple storytelling. It's not too complicated nor does it have the characters traveling from country to country. Its so simple that a kid with a Mac could've easily written the script and it's damn effective, I tell you. It has one of the best father-son relationship ever shown in a movie and the Antonio Ricci character is, I think, one of the earliest sympathetic characters and still remains as one of the most human, most realistic, just like the film.
Right, now my mother, a lover of slow, deliberate movies, asked me to download the film when I told her of the synopsis and the iconic scene of them sitting on the sidewalk. This also happens to be one of the only few films which she actually sat down to see it with me, a rarity. From the first 2-3 minutes into the film she was intrigued and she loved it. The ending had her in tears, another rarity, and she now claims The Bicycle Thieves as one of the best films she has seen (she's not a movie-lover, nowhere close, and has barely seen 20-25 and she hardly remembers all), so this coming from her was quite high praise. As for me? I've seen countless of movies and this film is indeed one of the most realistic, emotional and grabbing film I've seen in my life. I think I saw a coloured version somewhere (maybe I imagined it) but it was nothing to the black & white original. I guess some films are best left two-tone and they're better fleshed out like that.
Even for a vastly unknown actor in his debut, Lamberto Maggiorani wasn't bad at all. In fact, it's one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. Accompanying him in the hunt is Enzo Staiola as his son, Bruno, who I think of as "the little grown-up" due to his mannerisms. One of the best child-performances ever. The supporting were not bad either, especially Gino Saltamerenda as Baiocco which my mom thought was the best in the film.
One thing I ask of you in these sort of films is that do not, and I repeat do not watch just because everyone thinks they're the best thing. If its not your genre or your type, just ignore and watch another because your views will be obscured and you will be compelled, like many others, to write only good things about this film. I recommend it yes but to us, the 'modern' audience who have gotten so used to seeing actors who resemble their Madame Tussaud counterparts and less of themselves, will kinda find it boring and long. I guess I wasn't one of them because I LOVED it.
-cue snigger-
9.7/10
