The Kid with a Bike

All Cyril (Doret) wanted from his father (Renier) was for him to keep his bike. It was a symbol of the bond between father and son even if Cyril had been abandoned in a children’s home. Missing the bike and his father leaves Cyril with feelings of anger and rebellion. Samantha (De France), a local hairdresser, takes pity on him, agreeing to foster him at weekends. However, Samantha is not enough to replace his father and Cyril seeks the male companionship he once knew...

Winner of the Grand Jury’s prize at the 2011 Cannes festival, this is a gritty film which tells a story that is well recognised internationally. The Belgian Dardenne brothers are known for their naturalistic approach to film-making and are a breath of fresh air from the constant Hollywood churned-out 3D blockbusters – a point even made in the film itself in a discussion with Cyril and his neighbour. The directors use hand-held camera techniques to try and place the audience in the scene so they feel as close as possible to the characters portrayed.

Thomas Doret’s debut in the film as Cyril is widely praised. He plays the character with emotion and truly makes the part his own. He steals the show from the older stars, winning the audience's sympathy and taking them along on his journey of growth. His character is very much the ‘Bart Simpson’ of the film – the bad boy who everyone loves.

If you want to see something new at the cinema, take a chance on this!

Samilia Ekeocha