Film Screening, Bicycle Thieves (1948)

Vittorio De Sica’s classic 1948 neorealist drama, Bicycle Thieves (89 minutes), tells the story of a poor father searching in post-WWII Rome for his stolen bicycle, without which he will lose the job that was to be the salvation for his family. It received an Academy Honorary Award for most outstanding foreign language film in 1950; and in 1952 it was deemed the greatest film of all time by Sight & Sound magazine’s poll of filmmakers and critics. The film was also cited by Turner Classic Movies as one of the most influential films in cinema history.   

This film will be presented as part of KinoSaito’s free-admission Fall 2022 Italian Film Series cosponsored by Verplanck’s Italian heritage community on Fridays, October 14, November 11, and December 9, starting at 6 pm. For all film shows, guest speaker Michael Cramer, PhD, Sarah Lawrence College Professor of Film History, will present pre-screening introductions and facilitate post-screening discussions. Dr. Cramer specializes in teaching Italian Cinema History and Cinema in the Digital Age, among other courses. He is the author of the book, Utopian Television: Roberto Rossellini, Peter Watkins, and Jean-Luc Godard Beyond Cinema (2017). Dr. Cramer earned his PhD, MA, MPhil at Yale University.

This film series was generously cosponsored by Let It Shine, in celebration of the Paradise Restaurant, Angie’s Delicatessen, and 100 years of the Mt. Carmel Feast; Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in celebration of its 100th anniversary; and the O’Mara & Carpentieri Funeral Home. All presentations are free, but due to limited seating, require advanced registrations.