Bikes in Film: The 7th Dawn...

I was channel surfing when I happened upon this massive bicycle protest. Set in Malaya during the time of insurrection against British rule, the scene of note involves a mass protest against restrictions imposed by the British on the use of bicycles. Being the primary means of transportation, the Malayan people, led by Dhana (played by French actress, Capucine), turn out enmasse, riding bikes and ringing bells, carrying signs; in the face of the overwhelming rightness of their cause, the British governor backs down and eases the restrictions. At one point during the scene, William Holden, as Major Ferris (who sympathizes with the Malayans) finds himself in the midst of the mass of riders while driving his convertible. Frustrated with the pace, he stops and flings open his door, taking out one of the riders. Holden gives the man some money and takes off on his bike, riding with the rest of the protesters to see what happens. One of the largest collections of bikes and riders I have seen in a non-cycling specific film. There is at least one other scene of Capucine (lead actress) riding along, carefree - typical Hollywood glamour shot - before being stopped and arrested on charges of terrorism.

Bikes in Film: Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids...

A week, maybe two weeks, ago my son discovered we were picking up a new channel over the airwaves. It was a Tuesday night, what this station is calling Fat Tuesday. Why? Because they are showing that old Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids cartoon from the 1970s. It was one of those Saturday morning shows that my brother and I would watch on occasion. Anyway, we had last night's episode, called Justice Good As Ever, (you can watch the episode by clicking) on and watched intently because the story revolved around Rudy and his new bike, and concluded with a bike race vaguely reminiscent of Breaking Away. Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was not your average '70s cartoon, it always had a social message, or multiple messages woven into the storyline. You could pull several out of last nights episode including honesty, cheating, watching where you are driving, and even bike maintenance (doing the job right the first time). All the usual Kids were there (and Bill Cosby), including Dumb Donald with that pink stocking cap with eye slits so he could see. Hey, hey, hey, what a trip down memory lane. I know, that last part should rhyme.

Bikes in film: The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner...

Here is another that caught my eye thanks to the bike on the cover. The World is Big is a 2008 film out of Bulgaria. Following a car crash, in which his mother and father are killed, a young man (Sashko) embarks, in the company of his grandfather, on what might be called a journey of recovery. Bai, the grandfather, grown weary of the way doctors are treating Sashko's amnesia, convinces his grandson to leave the hospital, and together they travel by tandem from Germany back to Bulgaria in an attempt to reawaken memories of the past. There is more story intertwined throughout - political persecution, attempts to start over in a new country, friendships, and tying everything together, the game of backgammon. Pretty darn good with some fun cycling scenes. English subtitles didn't subtract from it at all. Now why does the lead actor (grandfather) remind me so much of Walter Matthau?

Bicycles in Cinema: Harvest...

Harvest (2011) is a story of a family, three siblings (two brothers and a sister, as well as the woman's son) coming to grips with their parent's illnesses. The matriarch, played by Barbara Barrie who, if you can't place the name, also starred as mother to Dave Stoller in the greatest cycling film of all, Breaking Away; in this film she suffers from dementia. The patriarch, gravel-voiced Robert Loggia, is dying of cancer. That is the story in its most basic terms; it has nothing to do with bikes or cycling except for one significant scene in which Siv (Loggia) wakes to a beautiful day outside his window and decides to do a little yardwork. Noticing the bike in the garage, though, he sets a pair of shears down and takes off along the streets of his New England hometown. What transpires next is a commonly cited reason many people ride - therapy. You can see the worry and regret falling away in his wake, disappearing into the shade of the tree lined streets as he pedals along. Though these emotions are not physical, they are as tangible and real in this scene as you could ever hope to get. Just a great, short cycling scene; if it does not convince you to get out on a ride, there is something seriously wrong with you.

i wish there was just a clip of this one scene, but

i can't seem to find one anywhere

More Bicycles in Cinema...

1981, a Canadian film, directed by Ricardo Trogi

This is a clever and enjoyable film from 2009 (French with English subtitles, but don't let that dissuade you). Story follows 11 year old Ricardo's expanding web of deceit created to impress Anne, the object of his affections, and make friends with the K-Way "gang". Some nice scenes of riding through the woods, experiencing the freedom and exhilaration, precedes a "truth will set you free" climax. Ultimately the burden of deceit weighs too heavily, crushing the feelings of freedom, et al (literally; brace yourself for a good old fashioned bike stomp). Even though my description sounds heavy, the film really isn't, the moral is presented lightly and with humor. If you come across it, I recommend it. The dialogue does get a bit sexual, so preview it if you have any concerns about your own kids watching it.

Bicycle Culture...

It being St. Patrick's Day I am in the midst of the annual watching of the Quiet Man and am reminded of the cycling scenes, particularly the tandem ride of Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara) and Sean (John Wayne). Not as well known, perhaps, as the Raindrops are Falling on My Head cycling scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but a classic none-the-less. I was fortunate enough to visit the Quiet Man museum in Cong, Ireland on my first trip to the Emerald Isle.

Bicycle Culture...

My philosophy is, that if it has a bike on the cover, I will try it. It is a sad statement of unchecked consumerism I know, and now you know. I apply it to books, wine, beer, clothing, and other less important things. I realize there may be a 50% chance of the purchase being a flop, but there is a bike on the cover, label, or stretched across the back, so come on. Anyway, when I walked into Video Paradiso last night and saw a bike on the cover of a dvd entitled Island etude, I immediately grabbed it up.

Apparently I do not peruse the foreign film aisles frequently enough, because this film was released in 2007. Filmed in Taiwan, the story follows a young college student who takes a break from his studies in order to ride around the island nation with pack and guitar on his back. Interwoven into his story are the various people, individual and groups, he encounters along the way. The exchange between these people is so compelling, I was easily drawn into the events regardless of having to follow the subtitles. In particular, follow the exchange involving the group of women, laid-off seamstresses and their "tour guide", our hero and his grandfather at a local religious celebration, and near the end, the solo cyclist traveling in the opposite direction around the island. Oh, but then there is also the film troupe, the young rebellious cyclist, the teacher at the school for the deaf... ahh heck, its all good, just use the pause button if you need to get up.

The film provides an interesting and informative look at Chinese (Taiwanese) culture (that's the anthropologist in me coming out), is visually stunning, and poetic. And it involves bikes, numerous bikes.