CAPFILM: BICYCLE THIEVES
CAPFILM: BICYCLE THIEVES
CAPFILM: BICYCLE THIEVES
Hailed around the world as one of the greatest movies ever made, the Academy Award–winning Bicycle Thieves, directed by Vittorio De Sica, defined an era in cinema. In poverty-stricken postwar Rome, a man is on his first day of a new job that offers hope of salvation for his desperate family when his bicycle, which he needs for his work, is stolen. With his young son in tow, he sets off to track down the thief.
A NOTE ABOUT THIS FILM
by Robert Delaney, Film Arts Programmer
Bicycle Thieves embodies so many of the major hallmarks of the Italian Neorealism movement, which was a pivotal moment in film history. Shooting on location, where the backdrop of post-World War II Rome is crucial to the atmosphere of the film. Employing amateur actors, where the performances feel so live-in. Focusing on an everyday occurrence, where De Sica channels drama that reflects the gravity of reality. This type of methodology changed the world of filmmaking, and Bicycle Thieves has become the poster child of Italian Neorealism for good reason.
Image, Sound and Silence: An Art House Film Series
Art House Film is one of the most bold, dynamic and influential parts of cinema history. While its impact on filmmaking is significant, it is extremely broad, can be challenging to access, and may be difficult to know where to begin. This series—the first of its kind to be presented at the Appell Center—is designed as an introduction, opening the door for our audiences into the wide world of the Art House.
We will explore pivotal film movements like Iranian New Wave, French New Wave and Italian Neorealism. We will screen films across different eras, going back to the late 1920s and forward to the early 2000s. We will celebrate national film traditions from around the globe and filmmakers who have made far-reaching impressions on world cinema.
Whether you are completely new to these films or have seen them many times before, we hope to create a community around this series; encouraging audiences to share their thoughts through discussion following the full theatrical experience and sparking a continued sense of creative exploration.
Upcoming Films in this Series:
- The Passion of Joan of Arc (June 23)
