Ladri di biciclette ( Bicycle Thieves )

Vittorio de Sica's remarkable drama of desperation and survival in Italy's post-war depression earned a special Academy Award for its affecting power. Shot in the streets and alleys of Rome, De Sica uses a real-life environment and cast non-professional actors. This landmark film defined the Italian neo-realist approach with its brutal portrayal of post-war life, its truthful acting, its compassion and poetic rhythm. De Sica uses the wandering pair to witness the lives of everyday folk whilst ultimately depicting a story of love and hope between father and son.