The Bicycle Thief, first released in 1948, follows Antonio Ricci in a post-World War II Rome as he desperately tries to make a living for himself and his family. Antonio finds work hanging posters in the city, under the condition that he has a bicycle. Whilst on the job Antonio’s bicycle is stolen and so Antonio and his 7-year-old son Bruno set out to find in a fit of desperation. Eventually, believing that he has no other choice, Antonio tries to steal a bicycle for himself. He fails and the film ends with him and son walking away in defeat towards whatever fate lies before them. The film genre is drama; the main character faces conviction, the film forces the audience to think about socioeconomic issues during the 1940s, and the main character
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In “A Desperate Act” there’s a hoard of strangers that help apprehend Antonio, the make the scene ironic. Referencing the beginning of the film, when Antonio’s bicycle is stolen there is an absence of assistance from surrounding strangers, whereas in Antonio’s act of desperation is stopped almost immediately. Additionally, the performance of the actors is imperative to the film. Drawing off the use of a child actor, Bruno appears to have a greater sense of morality than Antonio, his father. The fact that Bruno is seen as having the moral high ground over his father makes Antonio’s decision to steal a bicycle all the more desperate. It highlights the situation that they, and many others, are in economically. Another indication of the economic status of Bruno as well as many others in the plaza is their wardrobe. Wardrobe refers to the costume and makeup, and in relation to the characters of Bicycles thieves, all the characters appear to be well dress in public, but their clothes are all tattered and torn. The wardrobe of the characters in “A Desperate Act” shows audiences that it isn’t only Antonio that is struggling to survive in the post-World War II world. This then prompts the viewer to consider and think about socioeconomic issues in 1940s
In “A Desperate Act” there’s a hoard of strangers that help apprehend Antonio, the make the scene ironic. Referencing the beginning of the film, when Antonio’s bicycle is stolen there is an absence of assistance from surrounding strangers, whereas in Antonio’s act of desperation is stopped almost immediately. Additionally, the performance of the actors is imperative to the film. Drawing off the use of a child actor, Bruno appears to have a greater sense of morality than Antonio, his father. The fact that Bruno is seen as having the moral high ground over his father makes Antonio’s decision to steal a bicycle all the more desperate. It highlights the situation that they, and many others, are in economically. Another indication of the economic status of Bruno as well as many others in the plaza is their wardrobe. Wardrobe refers to the costume and makeup, and in relation to the characters of Bicycles thieves, all the characters appear to be well dress in public, but their clothes are all tattered and torn. The wardrobe of the characters in “A Desperate Act” shows audiences that it isn’t only Antonio that is struggling to survive in the post-World War II world. This then prompts the viewer to consider and think about socioeconomic issues in 1940s