Drama
Italian (Ladri di biciclette)
1948 · Directed by Vittorio De Sica · 89 min
In poor, postwar Rome, a long-unemployed father is offered a job that depends on owning a bicycle. Shot on real streets with a largely non-professional cast, the film follows one ordinary man and his young son through a few days that carry unusual weight.
Why it matters in cinema history
The film became the international emblem of postwar European realism, proving that a story about poverty, shot cheaply on location, could be both art and a worldwide success.
Watch with intention
Watch the city as a character: how Rome's crowds, streets and institutions shape one man's choices.
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