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Beijing Bicycle

Play trailer Poster for Beijing Bicycle PG-13 Released Jan 25, 2002 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A young country boy, Guei (Cui Lin) comes to the big city determined to make it. He soon finds a job as a bike messenger in which he gets a percentage of each delivery, working hard to build up enough credit to own the bike for himself. The bike is stolen and winds up in the hands of Jian (Li Bin), a poor city boy who sees the bike as his way to make friends and impress the girl he loves. With both boys claiming the bike is theirs, a series of fights ensue over what is more than just a bike.
Beijing Bicycle

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though rather repetitive in its plot, Beijing Bicycle provides an interesting look at the economic and social changes that have occurred in China.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Great tale of two boys' struggle over a bicycle. Rated: 4/5 Oct 14, 2010 Full Review Bruce Westbrook Houston Chronicle An artful yet depressing film that makes a melodramatic mountain out of the molehill of a missing bike. Rated: C Jun 28, 2002 Full Review Peter Howell Toronto Star With Beijing Bicycle, Wang has crafted a picturesque morality tale that slyly depicts the hopelessness of communism while pointing up the essential similarities between people of all classes. Rated: 3/4 May 31, 2002 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Even more than 20 years on, it is an exceptional film. Rated: 8/10 Jan 4, 2023 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Daniel Kasman d+kaz. intelligent movie reviews Rated: C- Aug 7, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Sad film in a lot of respects as the bicycle passes between the two boys, a symbol of social divides and the clasping onto hopes and dreams Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty good movie, really. Worth a viewing. I've been seeing a lot of Chinese films over the past few months and they've all been great, so... no complaints from me. This movie is depressing as sin, but really good and the development of the characters is solid. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpHgZgFBfJ0 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Un film ou personne n'est capable de prendre une decision intelligente... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Slow moving and not a whole lot of action. It's basically daily life of two boys and the dramas they experience, the only connection a bike. I'll still watch it despite the slowness of the movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member depressing, but shows you the value of a simple bike to the urban poor in the developing world Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Beijing Bicycle

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Cast & Crew

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Wang Xiaoshuai

Director

Lin Cui

Guei

Li Bin

Jian

Xun Zhou

Qin

Yuanyuan Gao

Xiao

Li Shuang

Da Huan

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Beijing Bicycle

Beijing Bicycle (2001) Beijing Bicycle (2001) Beijing Bicycle (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A young country boy, Guei (Cui Lin) comes to the big city determined to make it. He soon finds a job as a bike messenger in which he gets a percentage of each delivery, working hard to build up enough credit to own the bike for himself. The bike is stolen and winds up in the hands of Jian (Li Bin), a poor city boy who sees the bike as his way to make friends and impress the girl he loves. With both boys claiming the bike is theirs, a series of fights ensue over what is more than just a bike.
Director
Wang Xiaoshuai
Producer
Peggy Chiao, Hsiao-ming Hsu, Sanping Han
Screenwriter
Wang Xiaoshuai, Tang Danian, Peggy Chiao, Hsiao-ming Hsu
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Asiatic Films, Public Television Service Foundation, Eastern Television
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence|Brief Nudity)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 25, 2002, Original
Box Office (Gross USA)
$157.3K
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)