The Kid With A Bike-2011

Directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Starring Thomas Doret

Scott’s Review #416

Reviewed June 18, 2016

Grade: B

The Kid with a Bike is a small French film from 2011 that has received acclaim and recognition worldwide.

The film tells the story of a troublesome young boy abandoned by his struggling father and the various dramas that unfold.

I found the film somewhat disappointing, as I expected a bit more than I got.

Throughout the very short one hour and twenty-seven-minute run-time, the young boy broods and defies either authority or his caregivers, or fights with various people he encounters as he attempts to find his father.

The boy bonds with a local hairdresser who takes him in and is interesting, but her motivations are never made clear beyond being kind.

Why would she take in a strange kid? We don’t learn much about this character, and that is a shame.

One element toward the end of the film was shocking and well done, but overall I expected something a bit deeper from this movie, given all the praise surrounding it.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best International Film