In the poverty and unemployment stricken Italy in the late 40s, the neo-reality classic movie which is Ramayana of most new movie makers narrates the story of an Antonio Ricci in the poverty-stricken neighbourhood who gets a job as a bill poster but needs a bicycle to take the job.
By selling the bedsheets around the house, the Riccis redeem Antonio's bicycle from the pawnshop.
While sticking the bills, somebody steals his bicycle.
Shattered that his only possession is lost, Antonio goes in search of the bicycle with the help of the police and his streetwise friend but in vain. Whilst walking in town with his son, they spotted his bike, and they start a cat and mouse chase all around town trying to locate it.
He is disappointed when someone whom he had suspicions of being the bicycle thief turned out to be wrong. Out of frustration, he steals a bicycle just parked around the corner. He tries to flee the scene but is not sleek enough and is apprehended by bystanders. The whole misadventure is watched by his son, who was supposed to take the tram home but missed it. The owner of the bicycle decided not to pursue the matter further after looking at his crying son. He told him, "A mighty good example you are setting for your son!".
Antonio walks home with his son feeling totally embarrassed. FINE ('End' in Italian).
Somebody described it as a totally depressing movie. I guess these people have not viewed the many sad movies churned out (before Slum Dog Millionaire) from Kollywood, i.e. Thulabaram and Pasi.
The other point of contention is the title. In the earlier English translation of the title, somebody with an inferior command of the Italian language who got his singular and plural nouns all mixed up must have done the job. Even 'Google translate' is ignorant about this. Go try it yourself. (ladro = thief; ladri= thieves). Anyway, since Antonio also becomes a thief, logically it should be 'thieves'.
While sticking the bills, somebody steals his bicycle.
Shattered that his only possession is lost, Antonio goes in search of the bicycle with the help of the police and his streetwise friend but in vain. Whilst walking in town with his son, they spotted his bike, and they start a cat and mouse chase all around town trying to locate it.
He is disappointed when someone whom he had suspicions of being the bicycle thief turned out to be wrong. Out of frustration, he steals a bicycle just parked around the corner. He tries to flee the scene but is not sleek enough and is apprehended by bystanders. The whole misadventure is watched by his son, who was supposed to take the tram home but missed it. The owner of the bicycle decided not to pursue the matter further after looking at his crying son. He told him, "A mighty good example you are setting for your son!".
Antonio walks home with his son feeling totally embarrassed. FINE ('End' in Italian).
Somebody described it as a totally depressing movie. I guess these people have not viewed the many sad movies churned out (before Slum Dog Millionaire) from Kollywood, i.e. Thulabaram and Pasi.
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| Post WW2 Italy |
The other point of contention is the title. In the earlier English translation of the title, somebody with an inferior command of the Italian language who got his singular and plural nouns all mixed up must have done the job. Even 'Google translate' is ignorant about this. Go try it yourself. (ladro = thief; ladri= thieves). Anyway, since Antonio also becomes a thief, logically it should be 'thieves'.
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