The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!

Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Alena Altieri, Gino Saltamerenda, Guillo Chiari, Vittorio Antonucci

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"If you haven't got a bike, you'll have to let someone else take it." – Employment Officer, referring to the job's requirements

Why watch this? In desperate times, desperate men are often forced to do desperate things.

Plot Summary: In post-WWII Rome, times are hard and jobs are hard to come by. Antonio, whose wife and son depend on him, finally is selected for work, but he must have a bicycle. They agree to pawn their bed sheets to get his bike out of hock. Things seem to be looking up. However, on his first day of work, his bicycle is stolen. The police are of no help, so he takes matters into his own hands to track down the thief and get his two-wheeler back.
 

Dad's Preview: Aside from the sheer weight of humanity's cruelty to its fellow man, many of us can relate to Antonio, who just wants his property back so that he can feed his family. We see his frustrations turn into uncharacteristic anger as he takes things out on his young son, a boy who idolizes his father. We also begin to wonder how much a person can take, especially when there is nobody to turn to for help.

Produzioni De Sica; Ente Nazionale Industrie Cinematografiche