Le gamin au vélo (The Kid with a Bike)

Synopsis

A modern fairy tale with a razor-sharp edge, this highly acclaimed, deeply compassionate film from the Dardenne brothers centres on a damaged boy in search of love. Dumped by his father, eleven-year-old Cyril impulsively attaches himself to Samantha, a childless single woman who, equally impulsively, refuses to turn him away. The redeeming nature of love is not a new theme, and often accounts for some pretty treacly films, but this is not an easy ride or a manipulative tear-jerker. It’s in the great tradition of neo-realist cinema, seeking to evoke understanding rather than cheap sentiment.