The Kid with a Bike (2011)

The Kid with a Bike (2011) — A raw, intimate drama about abandonment, stubbornness and the fragile hope of connection. Eleven‑year‑old Cyril has been left to fend for himself after his father walks out; sent to a state youth farm, he clings to one possession and one idea of security — his bike and the hope of getting his father back. A chance encounter with Samantha, a kindly local hairdresser, gives him a glimpse of a different life: she returns his bike and offers to take him in on weekends. Cyril, proud and impulsive, keeps his guard up, drifting between gratitude and fierce mistrust. When he falls in with a small‑time crook, his loyalties and behavior threaten the fragile bond he’s begun to form with Samantha. Watching the film is a quietly powerful experience: austerely observed, emotionally intense and humane. The story unfolds in restrained, realist scenes that emphasize small gestures and expression over melodrama — you’ll feel the tension of Cyril’s internal struggle, the slow, uncertain warmth of Samantha’s care, and the moral ambiguity of choices made by damaged people. Themes of abandonment, belonging, resilience and forgiveness anchor the film, and its spare style makes every look and action resonate. If you see this movie you can expect a moving character study rather than conventional plot twists — a tough, tender portrait of a boy searching for stability and a woman trying to offer it, filmed with a patient, compassionate eye that lingers on the smallest signs of hope.

Actors: Thomas Doret, Cécile de France, Jérémie Renier

Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne

Runtime: 87 min

Genres: Drama, Family

6.8 /10 87 /100 7.4 /10 7.6 /10