Run time: 87 mins

Written and directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (Lorna’s Silence, The Son), though a clumsy translation from Le gamin au vélo to The Kid with a Bike, it is a compelling film, deservedly winning the Grand Prix jury  prize at Cannes Film Festival in 2011.

First time newcomer, Thomas Doret stars as Cyril, a determined 12 year old boy who has escaped from a foster home, having been abandoned by his distant father Guy (Jérémie Renier). His quest, to locate Guy, and his bicycle, the symbol of their relationship, accidentally leads Cyril into the ward of kindly hairdresser Samantha (Cécile de France) but the young boy’s desperate search for father figures doesn’t go well…

The Dardenne brothers have created a powerful, realistic exploration of natures oldest bond, that between parent and child, and deftly navigate the film without needless sentimentality; a remarkable piece of work.

“…a wholly gripping, emotionally acute work of humanistic cinema.” (Telegraph)

Come for the kid and the serene Cécile de France. Don’t miss.