Bicycle Thieves (for English speaking people)

There are people like Vittorio de Sica, who along with his main assistants, had the skill, wisdom and art, of filming a little story that engages and makes mourning. In our days it seems difficult for people to watch it because it looks old. They say the neorealist movement of De Sica is a matter of post-World War bussiness. His story based on a novel, and adapted, was probably  the result of the inspiration of someone with talent.

A bike becomes the instrument to survive, eat and move forward. The anguish of the father, who does what he can, and the fear of the child, are combined with the ability of human beings to be in the worst circumstances. A further distress to me because I confess can not ride a bike.

There are other stories..., like what happened in a grocery store in Madrid. I was told by my wise doorman, who received it from the major player. In recent days, not after any world war; just in the middle of difficult situation which we lived.

Someone asks for alms, a man at the door of the store. Before the "permanent place" corresponded to a 22-year-old immigrant from Eastern Europe, who said he wanted to go home. He had no money for the trip, did not respond clearly and his behavior did not clarify his intentions. He had good health and strength, but for the intuition of my keeper he was not eager to work.

He has been replaced by other gentleman who turns 70 soon. He had a very good position. He divorced his wife who took everything. Her daughters do not talk to him and he does not know his grandchildren. He was a good father, he says, not a bad husband. His wife was not a bad woman either. Although  she makes some human mistakes and she apparently liked the Visa Gold too much. When the Visa card privileges ended, it ran over 25 years of love and turbulent times began. He has a short retirement from the glory period. What he gets at the door is just to eat. He just pray not to fall ill, have good health and survive, as a bicycle thieve, as the main role of the movie, like most human beings.

Women are the ones that mainly give him something, cents or euros. Those who are still called  housewives, who also work outside their home (if they are lucky to keep a job). They saw the migrant as a son or nephew and the man who replaced him as a father, grandfather or father in law. The old man collects about 15 euros from 10 Am to 2 PM. Kidneys and back hurt. The rest of the time he spent it in his room. Asking just one thing: health!

What remains from the story I leave it to your imagination. There are many people in the world, many stories, truths, lies and half-truths, but it is not easy to live if everything depends on a bicycle it is stolen.

Food for thought