Bicycle Thieves

Bicycle Thieves Italian Ladri di biciclette originally titled The Bicycle Thief in the United States is a 1948 film directed by Vittorio De Sica. The film follows the story of a poor father searching postWorld War II Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which he will lose the job which was to be the salvation of his young family.

In the postWorld War II Val Melaina neighbourhood of Rome, Antonio Ricci Lamberto Maggiorani is desperate for work to support his wife Maria Lianella Carell, his son Bruno Enzo Staiola, and his small baby. He is offered a position posting advertising bills, but tells Maria that he cannot accept because the job requires a bicycle. Maria resolutely strips the bed of her dowry bedsheetsprized possessions for a poor familyand takes them to the pawn shop, where they bring enough to redeem Antonios pawned Fides brand bicycle. A memorable shot shows the sheets being added to a mountain of bedding pawned by other families. They cycle homeMaria on the crossbarrejoicing in their good fortune. Along the way, Maria insists that she has to visit someone. Antonio discovers that it is a seer who had prophesied that Antonio would find work and that Maria owes her money. Antonio is derisive of Marias faith in the seer, and teases her about spending money on such foolishness.On his first day of work Antonio is atop a ladder when a young man Vittorio Antonucci snatches the bicycle. Antonio chases the thief but is thrown off the trail by his confederates. The police take a report but warn that there is little they can do. Advised that stolen goods often surface at the Piazza Vittorio market, Antonio goes there with several friends and his small son Bruno. They find a bike that might be Antonios they summon an officer but the serial numbers do not match. ........

Source: Wikipedia