Bicycle Thieves (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

It’s the restored version of Bicycle Thieves by the arthouse label Criterion. Buy it. This is one of the best films ever made. If you are reading this review then you must be checking this film out. Enough procrastinating.

Great to see such an iconic film restored to its full glory

Actor turned director Vittorio De Sica won a well deserved Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for this brilliant, original and trendsetting picture about a worker in Rome trying to earn a living for his family. De Sica used a non-professional cast to portray the simple characters, headlined by Lamberto Maggiorani, a real life factory worker. Enzo Staiola plays his young son, and deserves his second billing ahead of Lianella Carell, who plays his mother. The simple storyline was written by De Sica with the collaboration of three other writers. Unlike some other neorealist pictures, this one is beautifully shot by Carlo Montuori, who uses a lot of natural light in the many outdoor scenes. De Sica makes outstanding use of the many wonderful locations throughout Rome where the story takes place. He also demonstrates a considerable amount of directorial skill, including his use of tracking shots and his crowd scenes. This outstanding DVD package includes some great features on this film and neorealism in general, plus the best booklet I've ever seen in a Criterion package.

Very high on my list of favorite films of all time, Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves packs an emotional punch every time I see it. As opposed to many neorealist films of the time (many of which I also greatly admire) which tended to focus on poverty as though it were an insurmountable force of nature, and which viewed the struggles of the poor working man through an almost morbidly romantic lens, De Sica and screenwriter Cesare Zavattini examine the same subject in a way that points the finger squarely at the individual and at society at large for creating and perpetuating the hardships that the characters endure. This is true not only for Bicycle Thieves, but for De Sica/Zavattini's other neorealist projects as well. The result is a poignant examination of human nature that prods at our own conscience while we are forced to ask ourselves how far we would be willing to lower ourselves to fulfill our own basic needs of survival. De Sica's films are usually devastatingly emotional and quite depressing, but always at their center is a deep and profound love for people and a (perhaps hopeless) wish for everything to work out okay for them. And always in some ways, there are small victories for the protagonists of his films, even if it wasn't the victory they were looking for. This Criterion edition of the film is fantastic. The print and transfer look better than I've ever seen it look, although the film does certainly show its age, with some scratches and lines showing up from time to time. The audio is fine.. the original mono Italian soundtrack appears to have been cleaned a bit as well, as there is minimal noise or hiss which allows the beautiful score to work its magic free of distractions. The second disc has promising special features, which I admit I haven't gotten around to viewing yet, and the package also comes with a 75 page booklet with numerous essays, both contemporary to the film and more modern, including writings by director Vittorio De Sica, screenwriter Cesare Zavattini, legendary film theorist Andre Bazin, and Sergio Leone, who as I learned from his essay, had a small cameo in the film. All in all, this Criterion release is among the best in their entire collection and is a necessary addition to any serious film lover's shelf.

Contento con la compra, me gustó mucho la edicion porque agregan mas información sobre el director y la obra. Solo está en dos idiomas (italiano e inglés) y una opción de subtitulos (inglés)

Bought this blindly based upon suggestions from Home Theater Forum members. I went into this film with high expectations. It did not disappoint. Very enjoyable film. I think what I most enjoyed about BICYCLE THIEVES was that nothing in this film seemed like it was being acted -- from the actors themselves to everything that was going on in the background. It was a great little story that brought out the hardships of being able to obtain a job during an era filled with poverty, and once employment is obtained, the grief of losing the most valued possession in your life. Most of the film is dominated with searching....whether it be for a bicycle or an old man. While the search becomes a tedious focal point of the film, it's interesting to watch the characters involved, particularly the lead character's son, Bruno. The Blu-ray transfer is immaculate, as you would expect from Criterion. The only flaws I see in the print are the scene transitions which look rough, but certainly not a problem to the point where it takes the viewer away from immersion of the story. A great film? No. Worthy of a purchase? Absolutely, if you can get it during a Criterion sale. I would have preferred to pay $20 for this instead of $28. Still, consider me to be a happy camper.

Arrivé à temps et en bon état. Mon conjoint adore ce film