Pickpocket (1959)

Featured Audience Ratings

• First L

  
  Written and directed by acclaimed french film-maker Robert Bresson, Pickpocket is the stark story of an impoverished, would-be writer who takes to a life of crime, partly as a necessity and partly for the simple thrill of it. Michel (Martin LaSalle) rarely evokes much emotion during… More
  Written and directed by acclaimed french film-maker Robert Bresson, Pickpocket is the stark story of an impoverished, would-be writer who takes to a life of crime, partly as a necessity and partly for the simple thrill of it. Michel (Martin LaSalle) rarely evokes much emotion during the course of the film, but his eyes speak volumes. His apartment is so stark, it doesn't even have a handle or lock on the door, just a flimsy little hook to keep it shut when he wants some privacy. He seems to have only one suit, which he wears at all times. His friend Jacques (Pierre Leymarie) tries to help him get a job, so he might buy some new clothes even, but it's an effort that's wasted on a disinterested party. When Michel comes to visit his dying mother, he meets the woman next door who has been caring for her. Jeanne (Markia Green) strikes his interest, but her pretty face is nothing compared to the allure of pickpocketing. He makes friends with other pickpockets, and learns a great deal from his companions (he's always studying to better himself at this craft). Only his conscience, in the guise of a police inspector, ever slows him down or gives him thought. As the film progresses, Michel gets more and more paranoid (but not enough to quit). In the dvd commentary, writer Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) explains that Bresson was trying to upset the audience's sense of well-being by not following the rules one expects when sitting down to watch a film. He uses very little music in his film, using it only here and there, sometimes at appropriate times, sometimes at seemingly inappropriate ones. He also avoids showing key points to the film (something that should never happen), such as when Michel gets arrested early in the picture: one moment he's walking down the street, confident and on top of the world, the next he's sitting in the back of a police car. The actual arrest isn't shown. Whether Bresson was intentionally trying to upset the viewer or simply trying to upset the apple cart and shake things up a little bit, I'm not sure, but it's certainly an interesting movie.

• Anthony L

  
  Beautifully filmed and masterfully accomplished, Bresson's loose version of Crime and Punishment is by far my favourite. I was almost hypnotised during the pickpocket sequences, thank God for pause buttons. I'm sad aren't I?. Anyway, great film but unfortunately the… More
  Beautifully filmed and masterfully accomplished, Bresson's loose version of Crime and Punishment is by far my favourite. I was almost hypnotised during the pickpocket sequences, thank God for pause buttons. I'm sad aren't I?. Anyway, great film but unfortunately the acting is a little wooden but forgivable!

• Eric B

  
  The appeal of "Pickpocket" is less about its story (the title is self-explanatory) and more about the deft economy of Robert Bresson's direction. Not a stroke is wasted. The depictions of intricate, tag-team pickpocket moves are especially sharp -- the eye can barely… More
  The appeal of "Pickpocket" is less about its story (the title is self-explanatory) and more about the deft economy of Robert Bresson's direction. Not a stroke is wasted. The depictions of intricate, tag-team pickpocket moves are especially sharp -- the eye can barely follow the action. "Pickpocket" has one glaring handicap: The untrained actors look strangely dazed throughout the film. This may be an intentional effect, but their stupor leaves little room for an emotional connection. Luckily, the movie is over so soon that it never has a chance to turn dull.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Pickpocket", Michel is a pickpocket of some talent but very little knowledge. His mother who he cannot bring himself to visit is seriously ill. Along the way, he makes new friends with his mother's neighbors, a police detective and an expert… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Pickpocket", Michel is a pickpocket of some talent but very little knowledge. His mother who he cannot bring himself to visit is seriously ill. Along the way, he makes new friends with his mother's neighbors, a police detective and an expert pickpocket who enlists and trains him.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Robert Bresson is more interested in getting inside the head of a criminal than in judging him. He is most curious about why a thief does steal. The highlight of the film is definitely the pickpocketing sequences. The ending is a bit of a letdown, though.[/font]

• Brian R

  
  Pickpocket influenced Paul Schrader's film works "Taxi Driver", "American Gigolo", and "Light Sleeper". The story of a young man living as a lonely man pickpocketing ppls wallet for a living. He's living in guilt and a beautiful french woman… More
  Pickpocket influenced Paul Schrader's film works "Taxi Driver", "American Gigolo", and "Light Sleeper". The story of a young man living as a lonely man pickpocketing ppls wallet for a living. He's living in guilt and a beautiful french woman seems to be his only salvation. Robert Bresson known as the Christian among filmmakers makes this gentle fascinating picture.

• Emily B

  
  A stylish looking film. The sequences of the pickpockets at work with the quick editing was just a joy to watch. The musical score is beautiful, and the fact that it's used sparingly between natural sounds of a busy Paris is very effective. Even on the strength of one film… More
  A stylish looking film. The sequences of the pickpockets at work with the quick editing was just a joy to watch. The musical score is beautiful, and the fact that it's used sparingly between natural sounds of a busy Paris is very effective. Even on the strength of one film I can say that Bresson truly is one of the great filmmakers, I'm eagerly awaiting to discover all his other films.

• MJS M

  
  I first encountered the work of Robert Bresson through a film called Au Hasard Balthazar, a work so boring that Ingmar Bergman claims he couldn?t sit through it. I was about ready to never watch another Bresson movie again, but his 1956 film A Man Escaped managed to find it?s way to… More
  I first encountered the work of Robert Bresson through a film called Au Hasard Balthazar, a work so boring that Ingmar Bergman claims he couldn?t sit through it. I was about ready to never watch another Bresson movie again, but his 1956 film A Man Escaped managed to find it?s way to me via round 41 of the CS film club. To my shock and amazement, it was a gripping film that was a thousand times more enjoyable than that stupid Balthazar movie. So, I was glad to have a chance to see Bresson?s 1959 follow-up Pickpocket. So did I like Pickpocket as much as A Man Escaped? Not so much. The two movies have definite stylistic similarities (both follow an isolated protagonist who conveys thoughts through voice over), the difference is that A Man Escaped is a thriller with an accessible story to go along with its existentialism, while Pickpocket just a bunch of existentialism. The scenes where the films protagonist is? picking pockets? are pretty interesting, but I had no investment in the guy. Overall it wasn?t very engaging, but at least it wasn?t anywhere near as boring as Au Hasard Balthazar.

• Linda K

  
  This film is very slow pace. The director's intention (in the editing) is to leave out any sense of climax or action behind and keep the content as precise as possible. It also has many religious connotations, for example salvation. There are many repetitive imagery which have… More
  This film is very slow pace. The director's intention (in the editing) is to leave out any sense of climax or action behind and keep the content as precise as possible. It also has many religious connotations, for example salvation. There are many repetitive imagery which have a great importance to the film for example, doors and hands. They are part of the main character's psychology. The only weak aspect of the film, i might say, would be the acting part. It might be part of the cold setting and editing, but the actors seem very stif. The other reason could be also that they are non-actors. Otherwise, the editing might be very strange to some but it is the original editing style of the director which is quite interesting.

• Wu C

  
  Influential. There's a couple good sequences in here, but I felt it to be kinda slow with no substantial plot.

• Tom S

  
  The pickpocket scenes were astonishing, but yeah, I just don't get into Bresson's style.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings