s of society. While the film is very tragic in nature, there is a slight degree of hope that family is understanding and that everything is not lost. An interesting aside is, despite its use as a MacGuffin device, the bicycle frame is a "Fides", which in Italian means Faith. This symbolic reference along with family relations may reflect notions of optimism felt in Italy during the rough postwar era.
             An evident theme of the film that relates more directly to Italy is the breakdown of human values while struggling through hard times. De Sica captures this psychological struggle in the scene where Antonio comes face to face with the thief, Alfredo, near the end of the film. In one particular shot there is a police officer, a few men in suits, and a mass of civilians. The men in suits, who stand right behind Alfredo, appear to be mafia-like characters although no specific indication is given; the crowd that has gathered, who stand behind the men in suits surrounding Antonio and the camera, are angry with Antonio's accusation and become increasingly rowdy; the police officer, who moments earlier mentions that while Alfredo may have
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