
At about 11, the stubborn and impulsive Cyril seems on his way to delinquency: he has no mother, his father wants a new life without him, so he's in a foster institution. He searches for his father, wanting him and his bike. Through the intersession of Samantha, a hairdresser Cyril happens upon, he gets his bike back, and she offers to take him into her home on weekends. He remains aloof from her and gets involved with a young crook. Is Cyril intent on driving Samantha away -... (Full plot summary below)
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At about 11, the stubborn and impulsive Cyril seems on his way to delinquency: he has no mother, his father wants a new life without him, so he's in a foster institution. He searches for his father, wanting him and his bike. Through the intersession of Samantha, a hairdresser Cyril happens upon, he gets his bike back, and she offers to take him into her home on weekends. He remains aloof from her and gets involved with a young crook. Is Cyril intent on driving Samantha away - and what then?
Leave your thoughts about The Kid with a Bike.
| Boston PhoenixGerald PearyOne of the classic international works about juvenile delinquency. |
| ViewLondonMatthew TurnerBrilliantly directed and superbly written, this is an emotionally gripping drama from the Dardenne Brothers with a heartbreaking central performance from young Thomas Doret. |
| L.A. WeeklyMike D'AngeloI remain in awe of the Dardennes' willingness to commit wholeheartedly to dislikable protagonists - Cyril is a sullen, selfish, almost maniacal little runt, with a cuteness quotient of zero. |
| Washington PostAnn HornadayLeery filmgoers can exhale: The Kid With a Bike may hew faithfully to the Dardennes' house style of spare, lucid storytelling. But without giving anything away, let's just say that with this simple, deeply affecting tale, they never set out to break your heart. |
| Seattle TimesMoira MacDonaldHunched over the handlebars, the boy's body seems to carve a hole in the wind. And we watch as this unhappy, rejected child makes some terrible choices, some of which make us want to look away. |
| Miami HeraldRene RodriguezAs usual for the Dardennes, the plot is slight but loaded with hairpin turns of tremendous emotional power. |
| Paste MagazineJay Antanicontinues the Belgian writing-directing brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's extraordinary run of charting the lives of European down-and-outers navigating difficult moral and spiritual terrain. |
| St. Paul Pioneer PressChris HewittIt is crystal clear on at least one point: People are mysterious and beautiful, and they need each other. |
| HollywoodChicago.comBrian TallericoThe Dardennes create tension out of human drama and draw believable, excellent performances from their entire cast. |
| Urban CinefileAndrew L. UrbanAn astonishing performance by young Thomas Doret as Cyril delivers the core of this well crafted, subtle yet powerful screenplay, which has won several accolades ... challenging yet accessible, sharply observed and emotionally authentic |