Bicycle Thieves

Duncan Gray

I can't deny the masterful potency of Bicycle Thieves, its moral clarity and the way that, although it's arthouse by default today, it could play to a crowd in '48. Part of my skepticism toward Italian neorealism has to do with its legacy, and the way so many modern festival pretenders gild the lily with over-the-top plot contrivances. De Sica's original knows that simple and mundane can have great emotional power.

Ethan

One of the best films to come out of the neo realist movement and the greatest of De Sica's career. He came close later in his career but he never quite matched the humanity that he captured in this film.

Amy Basil

A classic for good reason. A brutal setting that finds light relief in the expressiveness of Bruno's face. I do wish I had a time machine to experience it within the context of its era. Just to know, really know, how radical the neo-realist movement and the film was.

Skinnedteen

The kind of movie that tears your heart apart and tries to assemble the pieces back together using Elmer's glue. One can never recover

Zac Weber

A classic that has inspired countless films since its release. I particularly love how alive post-World War II Rome feels.

Ghostman

If you don't like this film you're probably an asshole. Either that or you hate poor people. Or Italians. Just saying

Harry Rossi

The only movie that could bring tears to my eyes just by thinking about it. If there was a list of the only ten perfect movies ever made, this would be on it.

Wee Hunk

I watched it because it's on TSPDT's list of the 1000 greatest films ever. I can appreciate it without actually liking it. It's that neo-realism thing that turns me off. It just seems like melodrama to me.