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Beijing Bicycle
Sony Pictures Classics


8.0

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 24 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some violence and brief nudity

Starring Cui Lin, Li Bin, Zhou Xun, and Gao Yuanyuan

The story of two teenagers who endeavor to share a highly valued bicycle after a dispute over its ownership.

GENRE(S):	Foreign
WRITTEN BY:	Wang Xiaoshuai Peggy Chiao Tang Danian Hsu Hsiao-ming
DIRECTED BY:	Wang Xiaoshuai
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: July 9, 2002 Video: July 9, 2002 Theatrical: January 25, 2002
RUNNING TIME:	113 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	China / Taiwan / France
LANGUAGE(S):	Mandarin (with English subtitles)

Original title "Shiqi sui de dan che"; Winner, Silver Bear, 2001 Berlin International Film Festival

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

With this masterful, flawless film, Xiaoshuai emerges in the front ranks of China's now numerous, world-renowned filmmakers.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

An absorbing slice of the New China and a fascinating duel between two magnificently stubborn antagonists.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Even without its bleak and affecting story, Beijing Bicycle would work beautifully as a travelogue alone.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

At once somber and mysterious, comical and sad. It shows just how lonely a crowded city can be.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Wang's young actors are impressively natural, and his documentary-style camerawork captures the rhythms and cacophony of the big city, all its crazy-quilt comings and goings.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

At times, the film meanders from its course and loses dramatic focus. But it's vividly acted and creatively directed.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

The movie is filled with sweetly funny moments, but its exposure of class, income and cultural differences makes it an uneasy charmer right up to its violent denouement.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Beijing Bicycle is a good film that owes a huge debt to a better film. And that, of course, is Vittorio De Sica's "The Bicycle Thief."

New Times (L.A.) Bill Gallo

Shot in the mean streets of a great and compelling city, here's a fascinating vision of societal upheaval that would likely awe De Sica himself.

Miami Herald Marta Barber

Though beautiful at times, it doesn't reach the level of poetry of either de Sica's "Thief" or Lou's "River."

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Beautifully filmed and very atmospheric in terms of evoking the sights and sounds of modern-day Beijing, this Chinese movie suffers a flat tire about halfway through.

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

Had Xiaoshuai trusted audience sympathies to stay with a slightly more forceful character, he'd likely have crafted the heart tugger that the film aims to be.

TV Guide Ken Fox

Wang's film offers an interesting look at the rapidly changing face of Beijing.

Film Threat Rich Cline

There's a natural authenticity to the film that makes it intensely watchable, even though it's repetitive and slightly underwritten.

Austin Chronicle Marrit Ingman

The film is often quietly humorous.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

Too simple for its own good.

San Francisco Chronicle Jesse Hamlin

Moderately engaging tale.

Boston Globe Chris Fujiwara

Hard, gleaming images and an oblique storytelling style come to Wang the way the bike comes to Jian -- secondhand.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Wang mistakes affectless storytelling and character conception for rigor, and as a result huge portions of Beijing Bicycle are dull and repetitive.

Variety Derek Elley

Overplays its slim hand by a good two reels.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Charlie C. gave it a0:
Lordy, lordy..... it was like watching a really bad soap opera. In all movies the viewer is required at some point to simply "believe" and enjoy. A this clunker progressed there was less and less to believe. Bad beyond bad. Watch it only if you think you are going to live forever and therefore feel you can afford to waste over 90 minutes of your time on earth.

Michael gave it a9:
First, this is a film, not a movie. Second, it is very well done and provides far more than worthy entertainment, it is informative, intelligent and thought provoking. Third, for me, it helps me get closer to my home away from home. I spend 3 to 4 months each year in Beijing for business over the course of about 4 trips. I have done so for several years. This is by far my favorite film about Chinese life in the major cities. However, it does require intelligence to understand the film. It also requires experience in China to recognize some subtleties. My only dissappointment is that I wish it had developed more the story of class difference - I think it missd some great opportunities that would have provided real insight for westerners who are interested in China as it goes through its current transition into capitalism, but have not had real opportunity to examine it either on location or other means. As a story in itself, it is clealy influenced by other films, but quite frankly, every movie I have ever seen is influenced by something that preceded it. This is a wonderful film.

amy gave it an8:
I grew up in Beijing and now studying in Europe.This movie game me a heavy feeling about the "agricultural workers" in my city.I am familar with many of the scenes and living environment charicterized in this movie.I helped understand what shaped part of my personality. I appreciate this movie,however,it is a little too realistic and critical that it doesn'T give people hope,but it does make me think. I think the unequal income distribution in China should draw the governance attention. Comforting enough,the chinese goverment has already carried out various policies in favour of the people from lower class, including these people from countryside who are seeking opportunities in big cities. I believe the move was filmed at least 5 years ago, and the things are slowly improving. I also thought that, education is the key to the development of either a indivitual or a nation. If only had the boys had some common legal knowlege, they wouldn"t have chosen the extrem way of dealing with conflicts. This movie is valuabe.

Rey De L. gave it a 10:
I think this is a really great foreign movie i would recommend it to anybody that likes the chinese culture.

Christophe H. gave it a 9:
Le vélo outil de travail, faut il en etre propriétaire... Ce film montre le capitallisme arrivant en Chine...

Josh gave it a 10:
I agree this movie has an unspoken depth that American movies rarely get to. Having spent 4 years of my life in the orient I can say that it gives me a better appreciation for the culture. The struggle is the same world over, it's just how it's communicated that makes this such a special movie. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Ark gave it a 3:
This movie simply didn't go anywhere. It was down-to-Earth, and interesting to start, but the characters were frustrating and didn't develop. In fact, they kind of spiralled downwards to the unsatisfying conclusion. I wasted my time with this movie.

Beijing Bicycle Sony Pictures Classics

Beijing Bicycle
Sony Pictures Classics