nothing ever goes hisway. His family is supportive unlike Lesters. But his desire for responsibility is driven byclass and economic need.3 So his desire to get the bike back that was stolen from himturns into a family and friend hunt. His son Bruno is with him through the entire search.Finally Ricci decides he has had enough of looking for the bike and says to his son, Youlive you suffer, to hell with it. You want a pizza? This kind of attitude made me think thathe was over being mad at the person who stole it and they might as well just make the bestof what was left of the day with each other. But when they are eating he notices what theother people are eating. He said to his son who also noticed that, You need a million yireto eat like that. Which sparked back up in him the hateful feelings toward the person whostole his bike. Instead of being the better person, like Lester was with Angela, Ricci letshis anguish get the best of him and steals someone elses bike. He let down his moralobligation towards his son when he decided to do this. His son realized this and keptasking him, Why daddy? Unlike Lester, Ricci did not gain any respect, he lost therespect of everyone and his irresponsibility made him weak in the eyes of his son.Both Lester and Ricci live in a world were they are constantly being judge bysociety and people close to them. In The Bicycle Thief Ricci and his son are a church withthe homeless of Rome. Although they are middle class their rugged clothes make themlook like they are homeless and need food and that is how the people around them treatthem. They say to Ricci and his son, soup will be served after the sermon please sit downuntil then. In American Beauty Lester is at a cheesy Realtors conference with his wife,who looks down on him because he is not up to her standards of being successful. Shetells him to act a certain way because a top Realtor was going to be there and she wouldlike to impress him becau...
