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Beijing Bicycle
2001
Wang Xiaoshuai's moving, emotional BEIJING BICYCLE tells the story of a young country boy, Guei (Cui Lin), who comes to the big city determined to make it. He soon finds a job as a bike messenger in which he gets a small percentage of each delivery, working hard to build up enough credit to eventually own the bike for himself. .. Read more
| Starring | Li Bin, Zhou Xun |
|---|---|
| Director | Wang Xiaoshuai |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Reducing the emphasis Vittorio De Sica placed on the search for a stolen cycle, director Wang Xiaoshuai explores the social and psychological pressure of making one's mark in the world in this homage to the Italian neorealist classic Bicycle Thieves. Country boy Cui Lin's gruelling progress as a pedal-bike courier is cut short when his only means of support is swiped. But Wang's portrayal of this event is less an attempt to elicit sympathy for him than the conscious establishment of a contrast to the need demonstrated by teenager Li Bin. He refuses to part with the bike he acquired at a flea market, as his status at school depends upon it.
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A late variation on Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, in which the emphasis is less on the problems of making a living, and more on the difficulties and particular stresses of urban life.
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"...Mr. Wang has a graceful, almost classical sense of perspective....BEIJING BICYCLE is at once somber and mysterious, comical and sad..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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15 out of 16 people found this review helpful
One Chinese opinion on this film
As a chinese student in UK, i knew this film about two and half years ago when i just came here. But i did't pay attention to this film. 'cause i don't like chinese films for propaganda purpose. Unfortunately, nowadays lots of chinese films are this kind.
A few days ago, i watched this film. After that i have to say it's absolutely good one. Beijing Bicycle is normal film about very usual thing which happened in China everyday. And because this, it makes big differece. As a chinese i konw what's it like in China , in Beijing or every big city. This kind of little thing happened around us every moment everyday. So this film made me feel that's real lives in China and made me think about something after watching.
if you're from different culture, maybe you won't really understand this story. Anyway i recommend you rent and watch it. -
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Simple yet compelling
The story really gave me a sense of the frustration of growing up and trying to survive in a place like Beijing - where a bike can mean so much. The story entwines the lives of two very different boys in a way that makes you empathise with both characters and at the same time keeps you guessing.
The way it is told is simple yet compelling - a lot of the time the actors convey their messages through actions and expressions rather then words. All in all a great movie which I would recommend. -
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Take It for a Spin
Chinese rendition of the Italian classic: the Bicycle Thief. Superbly filmed and thoroughly atmospheric. The film depicts the hard life of young people trying to make it in modern Beijing.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A fascinating film experience. Don't forget that China, inspite of huge economic growth, is a state controlled state where censorship is still enforced. Critics of this headlong rush towards capitalism have to hide their comments with allegory, in this case the bicycle. Nevertheless it is also the touching tale of two boys learning (or not) how to survive in this new country.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Where's my bike?
Good idea lost, like the eponymous bicycle, in the confusion of Beijing. Hard-working boy faces bad world, fights and wins - ooops, scrub that, fights and loses. Bad world wins out. Oh, well. Plot slows almost to zero but somehow, with brave central, emotional performances, the film holds out, only just. However, I never want to see another bicyle again.
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15 out of 16 people found this review helpful
One Chinese opinion on this film
As a chinese student in UK, i knew this film about two and half years ago when i just came here. But i did't pay attention to this film. 'cause i don't like chinese films for propaganda purpose. Unfortunately, nowadays lots of chinese films are this kind.
A few days ago, i watched this film. After that i have to say it's absolutely good one. Beijing Bicycle is normal film about very usual thing which happened in China everyday. And because this, it makes big differece. As a chinese i konw what's it like in China , in Beijing or every big city. This kind of little thing happened around us every moment everyday. So this film made me feel that's real lives in China and made me think about something after watching.
if you're from different culture, maybe you won't really understand this story. Anyway i recommend you rent and watch it. -
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Simple yet compelling
The story really gave me a sense of the frustration of growing up and trying to survive in a place like Beijing - where a bike can mean so much. The story entwines the lives of two very different boys in a way that makes you empathise with both characters and at the same time keeps you guessing.
The way it is told is simple yet compelling - a lot of the time the actors convey their messages through actions and expressions rather then words. All in all a great movie which I would recommend. -
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Take It for a Spin
Chinese rendition of the Italian classic: the Bicycle Thief. Superbly filmed and thoroughly atmospheric. The film depicts the hard life of young people trying to make it in modern Beijing.
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Chinese tale of a country boy who gets a job as a cycle courier in Beijing, which allows him to buy a new bike out of his wages. Trouble soon follows due to the jealousy of others and his own stubborness, which ultimately makes for a very sad movie.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Where's my bike?
Good idea lost, like the eponymous bicycle, in the confusion of Beijing. Hard-working boy faces bad world, fights and wins - ooops, scrub that, fights and loses. Bad world wins out. Oh, well. Plot slows almost to zero but somehow, with brave central, emotional performances, the film holds out, only just. However, I never want to see another bicyle again.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A fascinating film experience. Don't forget that China, inspite of huge economic growth, is a state controlled state where censorship is still enforced. Critics of this headlong rush towards capitalism have to hide their comments with allegory, in this case the bicycle. Nevertheless it is also the touching tale of two boys learning (or not) how to survive in this new country.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Disappointing & Dull
A very boring film. I managed to sit through most of it but did not enjoy it. My main problem with this film was that I could not empathesis with any of the characters, so I didn't really care what happened. I watch a lot of Chinese films but this one just doesn't do anything for me.
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This is an updated emulation of Di Sica's "Bicycle Thieves" and is very good. I do not know how accurate the setting was as I am not familiar with contemporary Beijing. Nevertheless an enjoyable movie which holds the attention
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A really good movie, and the acting by all the actors was just fantastic. They out do any rubbish american actors
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recommended
the movie was quite interesting way of looking at the problems in China. THe plot needed more though. I recommend this as a different type of film
Critics' reviews (6)
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Reducing the emphasis Vittorio De Sica placed on the search for a stolen cycle, director Wang Xiaoshuai explores the social and psychological pressure of making one's mark in the world in this homage to the Italian neorealist classic Bicycle Thieves. Country boy Cui Lin's gruelling progress as a pedal-bike courier is cut short when his only means of support is swiped. But Wang's portrayal of this event is less an attempt to elicit sympathy for him than the conscious establishment of a contrast to the need demonstrated by teenager Li Bin. He refuses to part with the bike he acquired at a flea market, as his status at school depends upon it.
-
A late variation on Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, in which the emphasis is less on the problems of making a living, and more on the difficulties and particular stresses of urban life.
-
"...Mr. Wang has a graceful, almost classical sense of perspective....BEIJING BICYCLE is at once somber and mysterious, comical and sad..."
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Enjoyable but less resonant than his earlier work, Wang's third 'above-ground' film centres on two contrasted... read more on Time Out
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"...Superb and harrowing....BEIJING BICYCLE moves adroitly with the emotional impact of a steamroller..."
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"...A humane and tender chronicle of the lives of desperate people....Austere and unforgettable..."
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Wang Xiaoshuai's moving, emotional BEIJING BICYCLE tells the story of a young country boy, Guei (Cui Lin), who comes to the big city determined to make it. He soon finds a job as a bike messenger in ... -
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