Bicycle Thieves
Italian Neorealism was an art movement that played with the conventions of classical Hollywood Realism. Through Bicycle Thieves, the viewer can pull out elements of both Neorealism and classical Hollywood Realism. Both Bicycle Thieves and Breathless demonstrate Realist elements to their stories that bring upon excitement and dramatically powerful films. Due to the combination of Neorealism and Hollywood Realism, aesthetic and narrative effects were shown throughout the films and became a success in world cinema.
Realism, in the classic Hollywood tradition, is a variety of elements that creates a realistic but dramatic plot in a film. Due to the realistic elements of film, this also intertwines with Neorealism, which seeks to expose poverty …show more content…
The use of invisible editing helped the narrative flow through the film. Bicycle Thieves is edited together smoothly by match cuts and conventional editing devices so that the events in the film just happen as the plot moves along (Fabe 109). The use of black and white film stock as mentioned before also provides a documentary-like aura, an aesthetic that could be familiar to many viewers not only in post World War II era, but present day as well. The emotional involvement of the viewer with the film is significant as one follows Ricci through his journey of looking for his bike in order to work and feed his family. The loss of the bicycle means more than material security, but also the loss of Ricci’s pride and hope for a better life for himself and his family, loss of manhood, and the loss of a reason to live (Fabe 107). The hopelessness in this film correlates with feelings of people in Europe after World War II and matched the aesthetic of Neorealism. All in all, Bicycle Thieves is a film that portrays Neorealism elements while still using classical Hollywood Realism. With the Neorealism/realism aspects combining with Hollywood Realism, the film is both grounded yet dramatic enough for the viewer to be invested in the film. Breathless is also a film that portrays these art movements and due to its successful combination of movements, both films are successful movies that present aesthetic and narrative effects, which are still being used
Realism, in the classic Hollywood tradition, is a variety of elements that creates a realistic but dramatic plot in a film. Due to the realistic elements of film, this also intertwines with Neorealism, which seeks to expose poverty …show more content…
The use of invisible editing helped the narrative flow through the film. Bicycle Thieves is edited together smoothly by match cuts and conventional editing devices so that the events in the film just happen as the plot moves along (Fabe 109). The use of black and white film stock as mentioned before also provides a documentary-like aura, an aesthetic that could be familiar to many viewers not only in post World War II era, but present day as well. The emotional involvement of the viewer with the film is significant as one follows Ricci through his journey of looking for his bike in order to work and feed his family. The loss of the bicycle means more than material security, but also the loss of Ricci’s pride and hope for a better life for himself and his family, loss of manhood, and the loss of a reason to live (Fabe 107). The hopelessness in this film correlates with feelings of people in Europe after World War II and matched the aesthetic of Neorealism. All in all, Bicycle Thieves is a film that portrays Neorealism elements while still using classical Hollywood Realism. With the Neorealism/realism aspects combining with Hollywood Realism, the film is both grounded yet dramatic enough for the viewer to be invested in the film. Breathless is also a film that portrays these art movements and due to its successful combination of movements, both films are successful movies that present aesthetic and narrative effects, which are still being used