Nothing really happens and there is almost zero dialog throughout the film. It's a story about a guy who mopes around looking for his bike. That's literally it. Don't bother..5 stars.
30 Reviews
Boring
Draysan-Jennings4 May 2021
It's more than a Moped
jeroduptown5 July 2021
my life is....
ops-525354 May 2021
The scooter, the scooter is my life, cause my scooter drives my wife to work and it drives my daughter to school and the scooter gives me work as a pizza deliverer, what else is there to say that its all there is to me, and nothing more than that. Except when it gets stolen. Then my wife will killme, my boss(who owns the bike) will quater me, and then there will be nothing more left than... stealing a scooter??
Its a tragedy doubled up, one is the film and the story, most of the acting ,plot and message, the second is that its a symptom of british filmaking per annum, and nothing more than that. A film with a very well hidden meaning, stopping at the halfway, and leaves the rest of the mystery for you to end. Maybe its made by the headmaster at st augustine ltv high school(were the daughters school in the film) as an essay competition, ''what do you think will happen to this man and family, do elaborate and explain why you think so''
and good luck to you too because its a waiting game in dreary kilburn of london uk. The grumpy old man does not recommend.
Its a tragedy doubled up, one is the film and the story, most of the acting ,plot and message, the second is that its a symptom of british filmaking per annum, and nothing more than that. A film with a very well hidden meaning, stopping at the halfway, and leaves the rest of the mystery for you to end. Maybe its made by the headmaster at st augustine ltv high school(were the daughters school in the film) as an essay competition, ''what do you think will happen to this man and family, do elaborate and explain why you think so''
and good luck to you too because its a waiting game in dreary kilburn of london uk. The grumpy old man does not recommend.
Bored me to tears...literally
omendata3 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
What more is there to say that the other reviewer has not, it is long and hardly any actual acting or speaking and most of that is in Romanian with subtitles and just a guy wandering around the hell on earth that is London; truly a depressing place to film anything and the ending was anything but uplifting - I mean how is he going to explain to the scumbag boss that the bike is different??? Not much of a moralistic tale, just nick someone else's bike if yours gets nicked and who thought that would be a good ending Is beyond me???
I have not seen the De Sica original but it has to be better than this dreadful effort.
I have not seen the De Sica original but it has to be better than this dreadful effort.
Way to slow
amblertom17 November 2021
on the tracks of De Sica
dromasca24 September 2021
If there was a need for a good proof that English social dramas are inspired by Italian neorealism, it is provided by 'The Bike Thief', made in 2020, the director's debut film by Matt Chambers. The title is a direct and casual reference to Vittorio De Sica's 1948 film, 'Ladri di biciclette'. His film is a homage and a transposition in time of the classic film of Italian neorealism, but not a pastiche. The script, also written by Matt Chambers, reuses some of the main ideas, situations and lines of action in Sica's film, transplanting the action in that part of contemporary London that most Englishmen and tourists ignore - the world of immigrants trying to find their place and build an identity in a world that offers them very few points of material or moral support. It is a film made with simplicity and sincerity, whose cinematic and acting qualities manage to make it interesting for film buffs who are interested in human and social dramas.
Viewers never know the name of the main hero. In fact, he spends much of his film with his face camouflaged by a motorcyclist's helmet. He is a Romanian immigrant and works at night delivering pizza to the customers of the restaurant run by Yusuf. The job is at the limit of legality, the moped used for deliveries is not insured. The boss also rents him the apartment where he lives with his wife - who works as a housekeeper - and his two children, a teenage girl who is a student, and a boy a few months old. His social integration is feeble. He speaks English only at a basic level and does not communicate much with his colleagues, immigrants from other continents. The family works hard and lives on the edge. When the moped entrusted to him by the boss is stolen - maybe bad luck, maybe the revenge of his colleagues - his whole existence is ruined. He is in danger of losing everything - his job, his housing, the means to support his family. The police do not help him because the moped was not insured and they seem more interested in checking whether he is not an illegal immigrant. We don't know much about this man, but he seems like a decent and honest person. However, the situation in which he finds himself cannot be resolved by honest means. As in the films of De Sica and of other Italian masters, the character is motivated by noble moral considerations, before all by devotion to his family, but life and the social conditions around put him in extreme situations.
The lead role is excellently played by Alec Secareanu. We can suspect that his lack of communication is not necessarily a character trait, and behind his silence there seems to be an untold life story. Anamaria Marinca is Elena, his wife, and I would have liked her role to be more consistent. Alexia Maria Proca debuts exceptionally in the role of the teenage daughter. The family scenes are interpreted with discretion and sensitivity. From the Romanian perspective, the film says something about the confrontation of many immigrants with the Western world that is far from welcoming them with open arms, and about the conflict of moral values between home education and the realities of the society in which they landed. However, director and screenwriter Matt Chambers did not insist on these issues, and from the point of view of a 'neutral' spectator, the film could be about immigrants from any other part of the world. The image signed by Nanu Segal adds quality to the film, bringing to the screen a London of the night, cold and dark, camouflaging its violence and contradictions. The conflict seems to be evolving slowly, but it is a gradation of slipping into the dark. Matt Chambers wrote and made a discreet film, but which conveys a significant message and has a remarkable emotional impact. Compared to the illustrious original that inspired him, 'The Bike Thief' does not come out very disadvantaged.
Viewers never know the name of the main hero. In fact, he spends much of his film with his face camouflaged by a motorcyclist's helmet. He is a Romanian immigrant and works at night delivering pizza to the customers of the restaurant run by Yusuf. The job is at the limit of legality, the moped used for deliveries is not insured. The boss also rents him the apartment where he lives with his wife - who works as a housekeeper - and his two children, a teenage girl who is a student, and a boy a few months old. His social integration is feeble. He speaks English only at a basic level and does not communicate much with his colleagues, immigrants from other continents. The family works hard and lives on the edge. When the moped entrusted to him by the boss is stolen - maybe bad luck, maybe the revenge of his colleagues - his whole existence is ruined. He is in danger of losing everything - his job, his housing, the means to support his family. The police do not help him because the moped was not insured and they seem more interested in checking whether he is not an illegal immigrant. We don't know much about this man, but he seems like a decent and honest person. However, the situation in which he finds himself cannot be resolved by honest means. As in the films of De Sica and of other Italian masters, the character is motivated by noble moral considerations, before all by devotion to his family, but life and the social conditions around put him in extreme situations.
The lead role is excellently played by Alec Secareanu. We can suspect that his lack of communication is not necessarily a character trait, and behind his silence there seems to be an untold life story. Anamaria Marinca is Elena, his wife, and I would have liked her role to be more consistent. Alexia Maria Proca debuts exceptionally in the role of the teenage daughter. The family scenes are interpreted with discretion and sensitivity. From the Romanian perspective, the film says something about the confrontation of many immigrants with the Western world that is far from welcoming them with open arms, and about the conflict of moral values between home education and the realities of the society in which they landed. However, director and screenwriter Matt Chambers did not insist on these issues, and from the point of view of a 'neutral' spectator, the film could be about immigrants from any other part of the world. The image signed by Nanu Segal adds quality to the film, bringing to the screen a London of the night, cold and dark, camouflaging its violence and contradictions. The conflict seems to be evolving slowly, but it is a gradation of slipping into the dark. Matt Chambers wrote and made a discreet film, but which conveys a significant message and has a remarkable emotional impact. Compared to the illustrious original that inspired him, 'The Bike Thief' does not come out very disadvantaged.
waste of time
mariobuhagiar3 May 2021
A very bad meaningless movie
Mah_Jam15 May 2021
Tense and very well written
mrcawhite8 May 2021
Acting was good
rotini-5258616 May 2021
Boring Movie
binarycompty10 May 2021
THE MOST BORING FILM
vipboss20 May 2021
A working classic film
rfusum4 May 2021
Currently at 6/10, this is an underrated film with a timeless working class message. It's ever more poignant in the age of the gig economy and precarious work.
It really should be seen by its intended audience--not the high brow critics who may not understand emotional elements to nameless bikers economic situation. It doesn't preach. The protagonist barely speaks English and is hesitant to communicate his desperation. This gives simple shots a great deal of emotional weight which for me is the true art of filmmaking. It's unpretentious, it's relevant, it's genuine and understated. It's art before art got rich.
It really should be seen by its intended audience--not the high brow critics who may not understand emotional elements to nameless bikers economic situation. It doesn't preach. The protagonist barely speaks English and is hesitant to communicate his desperation. This gives simple shots a great deal of emotional weight which for me is the true art of filmmaking. It's unpretentious, it's relevant, it's genuine and understated. It's art before art got rich.
Bike thief stole my heart
lefbrod3 May 2021
What a fantastic film! My heart totally bled for the rider and his family as they tried to navigate their way through the brutality of working class London whilst keeping their morals and integrity. Each shot was beautiful, perfectly framed and I loved how the camera movement made the audience feel like an active participant in each scene. It drew me in and I was glued. You have to see this film - it's mesmerising.
Visually compelling film!
naomileabailey27 July 2021
A thought provoking, beautifully shot film depicting the harsh realities of modern London life through the eyes of an immigrant. It's a gritty story, that's not necessarily fast paced but throws you into an intense story of hard decisions and heart breaking scenes for the rider. The music accompanied the London scenes fantastically. The riding scenes through the hustle and bustle of London were captured perfectly too.
Thought provoking
richardthomasdec10 May 2021
A very meaningful watch
pkj-381165 May 2021
A film truly showing life on the Edge in modern Britain
DesmondHees3 May 2021
A film very much in the vein of Ken Loach. Beautifully shot although somewhat indulgent on it's imagery, the film really delves into the lives of living on edge in modern Britain. The film could've reduced some of it's long takes and run time with the end product still being as good however.
Uncomfortable but thought provoking.
hyde-705093 May 2021
London is a fabulous city; bright lights, excitement and money. But here we have the have-nots, the bottom of society. The main characters are immigrants, but the gig economy, no workers rights and a miserable life mean that the streets are not paved with gold. If you like Ken Loach, you will really like this.
Very good
garyvaderallan11 May 2021
Low Budget, High Quality
vivbristow26 May 2021
Visually striking film depicting life in the dark, underbelly of London
tj-332844 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is such a subtle, thought-provoking, moving and beautifully shot film. Amid some stunning, nighttime sequences of frantic scooter rides through the streets of London, it describes how easily and quickly the lives of an immigrant family living close to the edge can unravel in the face of adversity. We then witness the subsequent complicated moral dilemmas "The Rider" faces. Quite simply, it draws you in to their lives and keeps you completely hooked, right up until the unexpected ending.
Brilliant movie
shjoshi-529545 May 2021
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