Bicycle Thieves: Breakthroughs In Film

Throughout time film has navigated itself in many directions through the use of growing technological advancements and worldly changes which have impacted in many breakthroughs in film history. Bicycle Thieves which was written by Cesare Zavattini and directed by Vittorio De Sica captured hardships of Italy post World War two through their neorealistic style and thematic approach. The famous final scene captures the true essence of a working class man during this historical era; this was accomplished through the use of the neorealistic approach which was in full bloom during this point in time. characteristics such as long takes, location filming as well as non famous actors and themes surrounding poverty and hardships of the average working
Neorealism became a new film style after World War two ; it focused on the everyday man and his struggles with poverty and the social issues that he faced. The film style consisted of longer takes, non-professional actors, location filming and themes which surrounded the economic changes which occurred in Italy post world war. It’s main theme depicted the struggles of economic instability among the working class and their desperation and the real problems they faced daily. As neorealism grew popular films took an entirely different approach from its familiar exaggerated scenes which revolved around spectacle to simpler movies which focused on the actual storyline. Bicycle Thieves embodies this approach as it tells the unfortunate story of a common man who fails to provide a better life for his family due to an unjust
The movie Bicycle Thieves did exactly this through the unique and simplistic storyline of Antonio and his son Bruno. The story focused on the simple daily struggles of a common man from the large crowd of unemployed men begging for a job, to the pawning of everyday essentials, to the high esteem associated with eating in a restaurant. The final scene particularly represented the harsh reality of unemployed, poverty stricken people during post World War as Antonio was driven to a point of desperation given his circumstances. One of the prominent features associated with neorealism was its focus on situations which occurred throughout the lives of the lower class people. Antonio’s desperation to drive himself out of poverty for his family drove him to do the very thing which brought him great pain. Zavattini cleverly twisted the plot in its final scene to show the outcomes that occurs in the lives of poverty stricken people. Though Antonio wanted to make an honest living he was driven to a point of poor decision making in order to rid himself of his financial