Is There Fulfillment in the Bicycle Thief?

Neorealist films seem to focus mainly on lack and try to show that no matter what, substance and fulfillment are never achieved. Rome, Open City illustrates the lack through loss of life, money, and freedom. Shoeshine portrays lack through deception and family issues, ultimately ending in the loss of life. It is strange, then, to watch Bicycle Thief that seems to have dissenting viewpoints on lack. One viewpoint is Antonio's which focuses on masculine lack and is given form through his bicycle (or lack there of). The other view is a little more interesting and comes from Antonio's son Bruno who is constantly reminding the audience that Antonio has no masculine lack. Bruno's ideology will have the audience believing that the lack is all in Antonio's head and even though he has no job, he has not lost his masculine identity. Overall the film shows that though Antonio represents his manhood with the bike, Bruno is a constant reminder that his father's manhood cannot be stolen so easily.