Rent The Kid with a Bike (2011)

3.6 of 5 from 299 ratings
1h 23min
Rent The Kid with a Bike (aka Le Gamin Au Vélo) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Cyril (Thomas Doret), almost 12, has only one plan: to find the father (Jeremie Renier) who left him temporarily in a children's home. By chance he meets Samantha (Cecile De France), who runs a hairdressing salon and agrees to let him stay with her at weekends. Cyril doesn't recognize the love Samantha feels for him, a love he desperately needs to calm his rage.
Actors:
, , , , , , , Samuel De Rijk, , , , , , Sandra Raco, , Romain Clavareau, Charles Monnoyer, Jasser Jaafari, ,
Directors:
,
Producers:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd
Creators:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Writers:
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Aka:
Le Gamin Au Vélo
Studio:
Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.
Genres:
Drama
Countries:
Belgium
Awards:

2011 Cannes Grand Prize Ex-aequo

BBFC:
Release Date:
23/07/2012
Run Time:
83 minutes
Languages:
French Dolby Digital 2.0, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Return to Seraing with Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
  • Interview with Cecile De France
  • Theatrical Trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
23/07/2012
Run Time:
87 minutes
Languages:
French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
English
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • Return to Seraing with Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
  • Interview with Cecile De France
  • Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (8) of The Kid with a Bike

Superb naturalistic Belgian film - well worthy of the grand prize at Cannes - The Kid with a Bike review by PV

Spoiler Alert
25/10/2012

I loved this film, despite not usually liking family dramas of kitchen-sink-style misery memoirs. Its story, characters, acting, direction were all superb - spot-on - and the well-written part of the boy loyal to a father who is uninterested in him struck true. The music too is great.

The film never drags and is an efficient 80 minutes or so. Perhaps because it concentrated on action and the kid's reaction to actions against him - rather than staring into space and talking philosophically (like many French films) or wallowing in poverty porn polemic (like many British films of this kind).

In essence, this was a modern fairytale - with its darknesses, villains, heroes, and a boy negotiating them all: like Oliver Twist or Pip.

I could watch this film again right now - it's an enjoyable and intelligent drama, which explores the morality of family loyalty. The ending sort of fizzles out a bit, and one does have to suspend disbelief then and occasionally, but no matter: a clear 5 star winner! From Belgium too.

4 out of 6 members found this review helpful.

A troubled child. - The Kid with a Bike review by RhysH

Spoiler Alert
18/03/2017

A very touching story from the Dardenne brothers' catalogue. Cyril a young boy in care searches for his father and his bike, he finds them both but only manages to hold on to one of them.

Cyril is played by Thomas Doret,, a stunning performance, he exudes despair and misery with his whole body. He runs and runs to get away from people to get away from everything, his bike just helps him move away more quickly. The first time he smiles is a revelation, a hint of a brighter future.

Cécile de France as Samantha, who becomes Cyril's foster parent give a beautiful, understated performance, there is a back story here that is not revealed.

The ending is ambiguous but after the smile we have some hope.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Heavy viewing - The Kid with a Bike review by Swambi

Spoiler Alert
21/01/2013

This film had a "dogme" feel, as if the actors were making up the script as they went along. It is very simply filmed, concentrating on interactions between 3 main characters, but still failed to develop their character, or give a good understanding of their past or future - although it is somewhat redeemed by a few lighter moments towards the end.

Personally I never felt convinced or involved, and most of the story is depressing. Cyril is unremittingly troubled for most of the film, his father unremittingly hard-hearted (although we never gain any idea why) and Samantha incredibly good and patient at all times. As this pattern basically repeats itself with little change, the behaviour of Cyril can soon become boring and aggravating.

The Directors then attempt to liven the story up with some crime and action, but this is frustrating because it is overplayed and unbelievable, particularly with virtually miraculous effects undertaken by Cyril. This left me feeling that the Directors were abusing credibility to manipulate the feeling of the viewers.

1 out of 4 members found this review helpful.

Critic review

The Kid with a Bike (aka Le Gamin Au Vélo) review by Melissa Orcine - Cinema Paradiso

Cyril has been left in a children’s home and he is sad and lonely, longing for his father who had abandoned him. He runs out of the home and returns to the apartment where they lived, but his father is nowhere, including the bike gifted to him. When Cyril does get his bike back, thanks to kind-hearted hairdresser Samantha, he’s on a mission to search for his father and make him take him back. If only. From director-siblings Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (‘L’Enfant’), ‘The Kid With A Bike’ is an emotional ride – pardon the pun – in the vein of the classic film ‘Bicycle Thieves’.

The Dardennes are not afraid of eliciting emotions from its audience and ‘The Kid With A Bike’ highlights the highs and lows of Cyril’s (newcomer Thomas Doret) affections, especially in wanting to be loved by his father. As the 11-year-old titular character, he is full of energy and enthusiasm, even when there seems to be no hope of being taken back by a deadbeat father (Jeremie Renier, a Dardenne regular) while Seraing, Belgium’s underworld criminals are more than willing to take Cyril in.

A saving grace is Samantha (Cecile de France), a single woman who has no reason to take care of a child but has too much kindness inside of her not to do so. She seems to be a potential foster parent to Cyril but will she follow through?

Abandonment has been tackled on film many times before and it’s a powerful thing, oftentimes making a dent in anyone’s life. Now imagine having to experience that as a child. Cyril doesn’t understand that he has been abandoned by his father; he believes his stint at the children’s home is only temporary. Believing his father to abandon him will mean he never loved him in the first place. Crushing to say the least. And Cyril’s only connection to him is a bike. It’s his current best friend, his stronghold, the symbol of him being loved. ‘The Kid With A Bike’ will make you cry and not for the wrong reasons. Go ahead and just weep.

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