Beijing Bicycle (2.5 out of 4)
Starring Cui Lin and Li Bin. Directed by Wang Xiaoshuai.
By Angela Baldassarre
Originally Published: 2002-06-02
Lightly based on Vittorio De Sica's The Bicycle Thief, this independent Chinese feature has some terrific performances from its teenage leads, but an overdrawn narrative.
Beijing Bicycle centres on Guei (Cui Lin), a 16-year-old boy who signs up as a messenger for a delivery service that lends him a bicycle that he will own with regular payments. But just as his bike is nearly paid for, it disappears along with Guei's job. So off he goes searching day and night for his bike, and discovers it in the possession of a spoiled teenage boy, Jian (Lin Bin) who refuses to hand it back. Now the boys have to arrive at a compromise.
Despite its interesting premise, the film should lose about 30 minutes from its mid-section.
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