- Bicycle Thieves(1946)- Vitterio De Sica. Language: Italian.
A simple story which would raise the inherent humanity inside you for sure. Made during the depression days in Europe post-war, this movie covers the socio-economic and human values of those days to the perfection. Also, the father-son bonding which develops throughout the movie is one of the finest depictions of relationship I have ever witnessed in cinema. Bicycle Thieves canvasses a strong cinematic theory which could narrate strong emotions without melodrama. Coming to De Sica, I think Umberto D was considered a better work of him than BT by critics, however, I personally found BT to be more subtle and to the point than UD which was a bit loud and stretchy in its presentation. The best part of BT is it never urges you to feel sorry for the state of the people but slowly twists your internal humanitarian values and by the time you see the climax, your values and emotions get a supreme empowerment.
The climax is definitely one of the very best I have ever watched, more like those of Chaplin climaxes when the Tramp goes towards the horizon with future hopes amidst present abjections. It does not provide a solution, but gives positivity. De Sica did the same in Umberto D as well, this time around with the man and the dog.
The scene when the father hears screams of a drowning child in the river and his anticipated fear of that being his son, Bruno is simply overwhelming. Bicycle Thieves indeed raised in me a lot of humanitarian values. It might appear a bit socialistic to many, but I think looking at Italy’s conditions that time, it was not impractical. Bicycle Thieves will remain, for me, The Movie- forever.
- Casablanca(1942)- Michael Curtiz. Language: English.
For three continuous nights after watching this, I could see the scenes of Casablanca only even in my sleep. Most cinematic, most intense and perhaps the most popular semi-tragic climax in Hollywood cinema was from Casablanca. Rick, Ilsa and Lazlo- the three corners constitute the triangle of Casablanca, and each of these relations depicted with so much of passion and intensity, you really start feeling for these characters. And Ingrid, ahh, did she ever look better than this?
