B-Drama: BICYCLE THIEVES (1948)

In post-war Italy, there are no jobs, people are struggling. Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) manages to land a job through a referral, but that job requires that he has a bicycle. No bike, no job. He tells his wife, Maria (the incredible Lianella Carell), who decides to sell their bedsheets so that they can buy a bicycle.

Maria Rosso biting her nails while anxiously waiting to know how much she will get for those sheets

Her husband Antonio only shows himself when it’s time to negotiate the price. I still wonder why. The merchant fills the order to the wife’s name.

They collect their money on big ass sheets of paper

Antonio presents himself at the job almost wearing his new bicycle. It’s almost cute. The manager tells him to put the bike down, come on…

Every time I saw this bicycle, I was on edge. Triggered. RIP Ruth Ryders von Roncesvalles.

The little Bruno was brilliantly portrayed by Enzo Staiola (who passed away on my birthday last year, June 4, 2025).

The photography on this film is a masterclass

This movie made me so sad. Everyone should watch it on election day. You can't vote right-wing after a film like this.

Italian neorealism is depressing af. The story stars in poverty and ends in even more poverty. Look: everyone is on foot!

I watched the film in English, and I loved how some elements of Italian were preserved in the dialogue.

Up next: a queer romance that starts with C, a non-queer one that starts with D, a biopic that starts with E