Comments on: Le gamin au vélo (The Kid With a Bike, Bel/Fra/Italy 2011) https://globalfilmstudies.com/2012/07/04/le-gamin-au-velo-the-kid-with-a-bike-belfraitaly-2011/ An introduction to global film for teachers and students Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:18:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Roy Stafford https://globalfilmstudies.com/2012/07/04/le-gamin-au-velo-the-kid-with-a-bike-belfraitaly-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:18:29 +0000 http://itpworld.wordpress.com/?p=6794#comment-131 In reply to Omar Ahmed (@bressonian).

Hi Omar

I made the Loach comparison because when I was in Belgium last week, The Angel’s Share was just about to open. I was struck by how much the ‘post-industrial’ Meuse valley reminded me of parts of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire (though the waterway is quite a bit bigger!). So I guess that I was thinking of films like Raining Stones and possibly Kes and the mining films or The Navigators. I’m not sure I would place the Dardennes’ work as melodrama since without the social context and issues of class/gender etc. it doesn’t develop the kinds of melodrama narratives with which I’m familiar. I certainly need to see more Bresson. I have to confess that I didn’t know about the fairy tale ideas before I saw it and it was only afterwards that I read interviews and started to think about it.

]]> By: Omar Ahmed (@bressonian) https://globalfilmstudies.com/2012/07/04/le-gamin-au-velo-the-kid-with-a-bike-belfraitaly-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:06:55 +0000 http://itpworld.wordpress.com/?p=6794#comment-130 The Dardennes are difficult to discuss in terms of style or the approach they take and perhaps it is a little easy to go for a comparison with Loach; I always do it when trying to pin down their influences. The reviewer you mention identifies the term ‘poetic realism’ which seems like an appropriate way of describing the style to this film. Additionally, much of the narrative operates within the confines of melodrama. Interesting readings in terms of fairy tales aspects that influenced the film. Also Loach has worked across different eras and dealt with all kinds of political situations while The Dardennes have gravitated more to the here and now in terms of realism. I felt this is the closest they have come to a filmmaker like Bresson.

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