Pickpocket
Seen it?1959 | 75 min | Crime, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved The Night of the Hunter or The Asphalt Jungle, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 15 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1959: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Michel takes up pickpocketing on a lark and is arrested soon after. His mother dies shortly after his release, and despite the objections of his only friend, Jacques, and his mother's neighbor Jeanne, Michel teams up with a couple of petty thieves in order to improve his craft. With a police inspector keeping an eye on him, Michel also tries to get a straight job, but the temptation to steal is hard to resist.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 47K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Robert Bresson
- Martin LaSalleMichel
- Marika GreenJeanne
- Jean PélégriLead Inspector
- Dolly ScalThe Mother
- Pierre LeymarieJacques
- Kassagi1st Accomplice
- Pierre Étaix2nd Accomplice
- César GattegnoInspector
- Sophie Saint-Just(uncredited)
- Dominique ZardiSubway Passenger (uncredited)