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Historical Background
The consequences of WW2 are visible in this video clip.
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People living in the collective apartments,
Women making a line to draw water from a well,
Rough field,
Children playing outside, ...
Everything seems to be in the midst of reconstruction.
Orphans
Two orphans. One is playing the accordion, and another is probably begging a man for money.
Wise woman
She is the "wise woman," who is admired by people seeking advice on their issues. Maria and Antonio also come to her place. People seek hope during the aftermath of the war.
Italian People Back Then
At the time Bicycle Thieves was first released, Italian people were in turmoil -collectively and individually. The nation was experiencing the transition of the political structure after the liberation from the fascist dictatorship. Cities were burnt and empty due to the war. People were struggling with poverty.
Today, there are positive opinions about how Bicycle Thieves depicts the harsh reality of the Italian people. However, back then, there were unfavorable voices toward the film because they considered that Bicycle Thieves portrayed Italy negatively.
Historical and social background is exhibited evidently in the film, which makes Bicycle Thieves neorealistic.
However, such an aspect might have conflicted with the sentiment of the Italian people back then, who had to undergo a number of difficulties.
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