Subtitle Saturday: The Bicycle Thief

I'm going to do something a little different this week.  I am going to write on a movie that I have seen only once, and many years ago.  How can I do this?  I am going to do it because this film is so distinct in its tone and theme that it is very difficult to not be impressed by it.

The film takes place in Rome right after World War 2.  As someone who has mainly seen Italy's beauty on display on film, this movie goes a different direction.  The black and white cinematography, the spare plot, the story and the setting all combine to create a bleak world.  Such a world could only exist in the bitter aftermath of a colossally destructive war.  The movie follows one man who uses his bicycle to do his job.  He has a young son who depends on him to do his job.  Someone steals his bicycle, taking away his livelihood.  He and his son go on a search for the bicycle.

It is a simple story told with empathy.  The reason I chose to write on it, in spite of the fact that it is not yet a personal favorite, is that it has a reputation which proceeds it.  Anytime there is a collection of great films, one is certain to find this film on the list.  Why is that?  Much like the Carol Reed film, "The Third Man", this movie captures a unique place and time.  It also seems to look with a prophetic eye on where reality (or our interpretation of it) is headed.  By the time we reach the end of the film, one can almost see that "The Usual Suspects" works in its shadow.  Is what we have seen (or what we thought about what we were seeing) really what it seems.  As this poor father struggles to maintain his and his son's life, he becomes willing to do almost anything to survive.

Most of us would do the same thing, or least feel the same way.  The bleak picture of post war Rome puts us right next to our protagonist, who is capable of both great frustration over injustice and willingness to consider committing unjust acts in order to preserve himself.  Being able to make this kind of impression after only one viewing speaks to the power of this movie.  The movie's ability to stick with me over so many years does the same thing.