• Home
  • Chilli Pepper Scale
  • The Early Research
  • Hall of Fame
    • The List
  • Genres
    • Drama
    • Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
    • Comedy
    • Action, Crime, War
    • Science Fiction, Super, Fantasy
    • Art House, Musical, International
    • Gritty, Challenging, Documentary
    • Romance, Matters of the Heart
    • Kid Friendly
  • Blog
SPICYWATCH

The Bicycle of Freedom

18/3/2015

0 Comments

 
Seth has had his bike out of action for a while due to the need for some minor repairs, and this week it has just returned into his life after a few months hiatus. He has rekindled his love for riding in a big way  by getting out every night and hitting the road for some wind at his heels freedom that comes with a good bike. 
There really is nothing like it, and I do feel bad for people that never had a bicycle growing up because it is one of the best freedoms you can have as a kid. The feeling of control and independence is second to none, and I recall my first serious bike with great fondness. It was bright yellow with a long glittery seat and colourful streamers that hung out of the handle bars. It came with training wheels, and I remember being so determined to learn to ride it without them that I had more than my fair share of epic crashes in the early days. 
But that was part of the thrill, nothing like a good fat scab to pick at when you're a kid! Anyway, I used to cruise the court that we lived in on that yellow machine like a pimp on the prowl, always on the look out for another kid in the neighbourhood to hang out with. And given the fact that no-one had an Ipad or a Playstation at that time, most kids were hanging out on the streets, equally keen to hit the road and get up to no good. 
Boy did I do some miles on that bike in my primary school days, I even recall pimping my ride with some funky beads on the spokes that made melodic clanking noises as I rode, they were so "trendy" at that time and I thought that I was so cool. 
When we finally moved out of the neighbourhood I remember that my bike was utterly decrepit with a torn seat, rusty frame, worn rubber handle bar grips and sad faded tyres, needless to say, it didn't come to the new house with me. Besides, I was on the verge of being a teen and I was too big for that bike.
But that yellow bike will always be a treasured memory for me, it was the bike that I learnt to ride on, it was the bike that I found my childhood freedom upon and it was the bike that I had a thousand childhood experiences on. 
Picture
THE BICYCLE THIEF 
Release Date: 1949
Rating: PG 
Running Time: 93 mins 
This must see Italian neorealist movie directed by Vittorio De Sica is a masterpiece of cinema that speaks volumes about the human condition in Rome post World War II. The Bicycle Thief has received a swag of awards since its release some 65+ years ago, and it was ranked #4 in Empire magazines "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010. 
During the depression of Post-WW II, Ricci has found himself a job that will help him to support his wife, son and baby. However, when Ricci's bicycle is stolen he faces the grim possibility of life without a job again and this desperation leads him to desperate measures.
This is heart wrenching stuff, set amid the clearly war torn backdrop of Post War Rome. The performances are passionate, emotional and deeply stirring; it's an altogether moving experience that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. 
FINAL SAY: You live and you suffer. 
4.5 Chili Peppers

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Hi, my name is Barb.
    I crave excellent, high quality viewing experiences. 
    ​Share in my addiction. 

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Art House
    Comedy
    Disasters
    Drama
    Eating Out
    Fantasy
    Foreign
    Gatherings
    Gritty / Documentary
    Horror
    Kid Friendly
    Life
    Mum Stuff
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    TV
    War

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from Crysco Photography