The Bicycle Thief & Beijing Bicycle

The Bicycle Thief is an Italian classic drama made in 1947 by Vittorio De Sica. All of the actors used in this film were amateurs, but despite that the film won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film while also being nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, screenplay. It's in black and white and can be watched in Italian, English or English subtitles.

I found it even more interesting to watch this movie dubbed in English with English subtitles. The subtitles did not always match up with the voice over, but in most cases it provided a better understanding of what emotions were being displayed.

The Chinese version of man's struggle involving a bike is Beijing Bicycle. This movie was released in 2001 and can be watched in English with subtitles. This movie won one award at the Berlin International Film Festival, and was nominated for three others in festivals abroad.

The main character in The Bicycle Thief, Antonio Ricci, has been unemployed for two years and struggling to provide for his family of four. He secures a job, but to qualify for the job Antonio must have his own bicycle. No bicycle, no job. Because he has a bicycle Antonio's self-worth and dignity are restored with this potentially lucrative position.

Antonio's bicycle is stolen from him early into his first official work day. Three men conspire and successfully strip him of his job's most important tool. All of his time and emotion are spent searching for his stolen bicycle on the streets of Rome, but the culture of this poor section of town is filled with bicycles. The bike is a commodity with significant value as it provides freedom and options in life.

Immediately you realize it's next to impossible for him to find his bicycle in this environment. Antonio and his friends go after every possible lead, and at one point he believes he tracks down the thief. After confronting the suspected thief within the suspect's home neighborhood Antonio becomes surrounded by locals coming to the suspect's defense. This attempt proves unsuccessful as this confrontation falls short of a physical battle, but the struggle for survival on both sides are evident.

In order to save himself, save his job, and his self-worth Antonio attempts the undignified by trying to steal a bicycle. He's chased down by locals and is about to be brought to justice, but the bicycle's owner realizes Antonio is a desperate man. Instead of pouring more troubles onto Antonio's back the owner does not press charges.

From there the sense of hopelessness continues without any end in sight.

There are two central figures in Beijing Bicycle fighting over the possession of a bicycle, but it rightfully belongs to only one of them. One boy named Guei is a peasant from the farmlands who has moved into the big city of Beijing for a better life. The second boy named Jian is a lower class bourgeois youngster striving to impress his peers and win the heart of a girl.

Guei gets a bicycle courier job and has the opportunity to own the bicycle issued to him by the company. He is one payment away from owning the bicycle when it's stolen from him, and subsequently he's fired from his courier job. He's promised his job back if only he can find the bicycle. Finding a stolen bicycle on the streets of Beijing would appear to be an insurmountable task, but Guei wisely marked his special bicycle to help him identify his occupational tool.

Eventually Guei's path crosses with Jian and the battle over his bicycle begins. Jian had stolen the bike so that he may enjoy the status and freedom a bicycle offers, especially when it can help him win the heart of a girl and cement his place among his peers. The battle between the two is quite vicious at times and becomes a battle of determination and test of wills. To make matters worse for Guei he is up against not only Jian, but all of Jian's schoolmates who take an active role in defending their friend. Jian tells everyone the bike was purchased by his father, so they feel obligated to stand up for him.

Despite the turmoil Guei endures, mentally and physically, it becomes obvious to Jian and his friends that Guei's stubbornness is an obstacle they cannot overcome. The two boys reach an agreement to share the bicycle, which allows Guei to return to his job as a courier. During this sharing is when Jian's world begins to fall to pieces. He's exposed in front of his friends and family to have lied, and loses the heart of a girl to a "bad boy" type who can do tricks and track stands like a pro. Jian becomes enraged with jealousy and takes a brick to the head of the "bad boy."

Afterwards, Jian predictably arrives at the point where having the bicycle provides no more utility and tells Guei he can keep it. At this exact point the bad boy arrives on the scene bloodied, pissed, and with a pack of angry friends. Both Jian and Guei begin to flee, Jian on foot and Guei on bicycle. Why Guei is even fleeing makes no sense, but he becomes guilty through association and the chase ensues. The boys are finally caught and a brutal beating takes place. Pack mentality prevails on the streets of Beijing.

The most saddening aspect is one kid goes on to completely destroy Guei's bicycle while Guei is pleading for mercy. As you see Guei's bicycle being destroyed beyond repair you see yourself sitting on the sidelines watching and putting yourself in Guei's position. You realize saving the bicycle is hopeless, but the boiling anger must be released in that moment.

Guei instinctively takes a brick to the boy's head ending the destruction. He picks up his bicycle, carries it on his shoulder, and struggles to walk away after the beating. Because of his determination and stubbornness this peasant never let go of what was rightfully his.

The Bicycle Thief and Beijing Bicycle both get a THUMBS UP!

Both films will help you better understand the emotions ranging from hopelessness to determination as man attempts to reclaim ownership of his dignity. These men understand without dignity they have nothing. Their struggle is our struggle.