Bicycle Thieves

A benchmark of the Italian neo-realism film movement that is quite honestly one of the most stress-inducing and emotionally brutal films I've seen. The story does such an incredible job at making you feel Antonio's pain when he loses his bicycle, feeling his livelihood ripped from him, empathising with every decision he makes next. Though, in fact only a material loss, De Sica expertly illustrates the trivial loss of his bicycle, with his display of Antonio's loving wife and son; perfectly encapsulating Antonio wanting to let go of his troubles and be grateful for what he has, but being so driven by his love for what he has that he wants to be able to provide for the most important people in his life. It pushes him to his limits so far, that he feels the need to twist his beliefs and even morals. While in actuality, its a problem so many others deal with, trivial losses. When he loses his bicycle, he feels he has lost everything, but what he does to get it back, is what truly makes him lose everything. True cinematic poetry with a full-circle ending, making the audience break down with Antonio. Was the bicycle worth betraying yourself? Maybe.