๐ŸŽฌ Enzo Staiola (15 Nov 1939 – 4 June 2025) The little boy from Bicycle Thieves is no more. Passed away in Rome, aged 85

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๐ŸŽฌ Enzo Staiola (15 Nov 1939 – 4 June 2025)

The little boy from Bicycle Thieves is no more. Passed away in Rome, aged 85.

Spotted by Vittorio De Sica on a street, untrained, Enzo became Bruno — the heart of Italian Neorealism.
Shot in 1948 with non-actors & real streets of postwar Rome, Bicycle Thieves told a simple, universal story of loss, dignity & survival.

Enzo left films early, lived a quiet life in Rome as a land registry clerk.
His wide-eyed gaze in the film’s final scene will remain etched in cinema history.

Trivia: Bicycle Thieves deeply influenced Satyajit Ray while making Pather Panchali — both films opened new windows to the world through a child’s eyes.

๐ŸŽฅ Farewell, Bruno.

Venkataramanan Ramasethu
8 June 2025

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