At the end of the movie, Vito (Antonio Giannini) is at the mercy of the police, who have him in a holding cell. He’s alone and bored, but he’s not going to give up his freedom. He decides to escape and steal a bike.
When he reaches the docks, he spots a man standing on a bicycle. The man is so engrossed in watching a group of women playing volleyball that he doesn’t notice Vito approaching.
Vito grabs the bike and speeds off. As he rides away, he hears the man shout, “Bicycle thief!”
He turns around and sees the man chasing him on foot. Vito speeds up, but the man keeps gaining ground. Vito tries to lose him by riding into the river, but he falls in and the man catches up.
The two struggle until they’re out of breath. Vito pulls himself out of the water and continues to run. The man gives up and chases him on foot.
Vito rides to a police station, where he’s arrested. He’s taken back to jail, and he’s about to be put in solitary confinement when he spots the man who stole his bike.
The man approaches and says, “You don’t have to be afraid of me any more.”
Vito is surprised by his words. “Why?” he asks.
“Because I’m your friend,” the man says.
“But I didn’t do anything.”
“I know,” the man says. “That’s why I’m here.”
Vito is shocked. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m the one who stole your bike,” the man says.
“You?” Vito asks.
“Yeah,” the man says. “I’m a thief.”
Vito laughs and shakes his head. “You’re crazy!” he says.
“I know,” the man says. “I’m a thief.”
The two men laugh and hug.
Conclusion – How Does Bicycle Thieves End?
We can all learn something from this film, and the message is clear. A story is just a story, and the characters in the story are just that—characters.
The only thing that matters is the story, and the people who tell it. And if you’re going to tell a story, you have to be true to the story, to the characters, and to the audience.
