Available Now on IFC On Demand
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Directors: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
FilmPulse Score: 6/10
The Dardenne Brothers have been making films steeped in European Realism for the last twelve years, starting with Rosetta (1999) and up to their latest film, The Kid with a Bike. One has to admit that they are definitely in a league of their own, considering every film from Rosetta to The Kid with a Bike has been nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Although The Kid with a Bike did not win, it did however win the Grand Prize of the Jury for Best Film, and garnered a Best Foreign Language nomination at the Golden Globes. With all that being said, I still found this film to be a bit disappointing, given all the attention and praise it has received.
The Kid with a Bike centers on young boy, Cyril (Thomas Doret), who longs for his father after being left him at a state-run youth home. His father (Jérémie Renier)said that he would come back for him when he was able to put some money together, but after more than a month, he still has not heard from him. Cyril calls his father’s apartment constantly; after being told by the janitor at his father’s apartment that he’s moved out, Cyril needs to see it for himself. Ditching school and taking the bus, Cyril arrives in his neighborhood looking for his father and his bike, neither of which are anywhere to be found.
He does, however, latch onto (literally) a female hairdresser, Samantha (Cécile De France), at the medical practice inside of the apartment complex. She shows up later at the youth home with Cyril’s bike, which she bought off of a neighborhood boy and his father. Cyril doesn’t accept the fact that his dad would ever sell his bike, telling Samantha that they stole the bike and subsequently sold it back her. Nonetheless, Cyril is delighted to have his bike back as he directs the adults to watch him and his bike riding abilities. Uplifted by Samantha’s act of kindness, Cyril chases after her on his bike to ask if he can spend the weekends with her.
Cyril is enamored by his bike, which gives him his first taste of freedom and independence. The bike is made even more special by the fact that it was given to him by his father. Cyril uses his newly restored freedom to travel the neighborhood, asking questions and looking for clues as to where his father might have gone. On several occasions, when it’s left unattended, neighborhood boys try to take off with his bike, leading Cyril to defend himself against a group of larger boys. It’s then that he meets “The Dealer,” a local gang leader who Cyril looks up to perhaps as a father figure or an older brother, but definitely as a friend and someone to protect him.
Cyril, of course, falls into the wrong crowd, but who can blame him since “The Dealer” is the only older male that pays any attention to him. He’s been cast aside by his father, who flat-out tells him that he doesn’t want to see him anymore. Cyril is confused – he seeks attention and love, but when he receives genuine affection from Samantha he reacts with violence. After an inevitable betrayal Cyril finally realizes and accepts Samantha’s affection, finally finding himself a true home.
While The Kid with a Bike, and specifically Cyril, has a lot of heart, the film felt as though it lacked something. The characters and the plot felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to feel as emotionally connected as I had expected to be. Aside from Thomas Doret’s performance, I felt that the film was somehow superficial, like it was trying too hard to be something. Yet The Kid with a Bike is a strong film that will still be loved by many; even though I thought it was undistinguished, the film, like its main character will surely dust off any negativity it may encounter and continue – stronger, a bit spunky, and working its way into the hearts of those that watch it.
