Directed by Vittorio De Sica (Italia, 1948) 92 min.
In post-World War II Valmelaina, Rome, Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) is desperate for work to support his wife Maria (Lianella Carell), his son Bruno (Enzo Staiola), and his small baby. He is offered a position posting advertising bills but tells Maria that he cannot accept because the job requires a bicycle. Maria resolutely strips the bed of her dowry bedsheets—prized possessions for a poor family—and takes them to the pawn office,[where they bring enough to redeem Antonio’s bicycle. (A memorable shot shows the sheets being added to a mountain of bedding pawned by other families.) They cycle home—Maria on the handlebars—rejoicing in their good fortune. Along the way Maria insists (to Antonio’s derision) on leaving money for a seer who had prophesied Antonio would find work.
On his first day of work Antonio is atop a ladder when a young man (Vittorio Antonucci) snatches the bicycle.