Bicycle Thieves Ambiguity

'The Bicycle Thieves' is simple story set against the backdrop of post-war, poverty stricken Italy. It focuses on the story of a man, Antonio, searching for his bike that was stolen from him with his son Bruno. Although the story seemingly is focused on one man and his son, it depicts the struggles of many others throughout the film.

Morality also plays large role in The Bicycle Thieves. The viewer understands that it was wrong for the their to steal the bicycle from Antonio, but after seeing where he lives it is apparent that he only stole the bike to support his family, it is easy to understand that it was done out of desperation and not out of pettiness. The moral ambiguity in the film creates makes it hard to discern who is truly in the right. Originally the viewer starts out feeling quite sorry for Antonio. Just as fortune favors him and it seems he and his family will have a chance at a better life, it is torn away from him. Antonio eventually
Antonio initially comes across as a pragmatic individual mainly concerned with providing for his family. He teases his wife for her decision to visit a local mystic, but he later returns to visit the mystic after his bike is stolen. The psychic gives him some vague, unhelpful advice, but the point of this is to show that even the most practical people will look for relief and assurance from questionable sources when they have lost hope. As the narrative unfolds we can see that the bicycle becomes a greater and greater priority for Antonio, and it reaches the point where the material concern of the bike, as evidenced by the scene where Antonio and Bruno follow the suspicious elderly man into the church, Antonio is obvious the fact that questioning the man during the church service is not the best time for him to conduct his inquiry. The church provides a refuge for the less fortunate, but it serves only as an obstacle for the Ricci's and their