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The Kid with a Bike

2011 · Movie · PG-13 · 87 min · ★ 7.1 · 92% critics

Drama

After being left behind by a parent, a restless young boy clings to the one thing that still connects him to home: his bike. When a stranger offers weekend care, he keeps searching for belonging and guidance, but his anger and need make him vulnerable to the wrong influences.

Where to watch

Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on AMC+, Sundance Channel, Philo +2 more.

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Details
Original title
Le Gamin au vélo
Years
2011
Release date
2011-05-18
Language
French
Rated
PG-13
Runtime
87 min
Critic score
92/100
TMDB rating
7.1/10 (457 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a grounded, emotionally intense drama about abandonment, trust, and hard choices, in the vein of Two Days, One Night or Lorna's Silence; Not for you if you need light escapism or tidy feel-good resolutions.

Pros: powerful child performance; raw emotional realism; quietly gripping tension | Cons: some thinly drawn characters; occasionally repetitive beats; bleak subject matter

Themes

  • robbery
  • assault
  • riding a bicycle
  • redemption
  • orphan
  • bike
  • stolen bicycle
  • pardon
  • denial
  • criminal gang
  • deadbeat dad
  • acceptance
  • +3 more

Awards & recognition

  • Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix · 2011
  • European Film AwardBest Screenwriter · 2011
  • European Film AwardBest Actress · 2011 · nominated
  • European Film AwardBest Director · 2011 · nominated
  • European Film AwardBest Film · 2011 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
  • European Film AwardBest Screenwriter · 2011 · nominated

Cast & crew