The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman's Finger
The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman's Finger

Movie spotlight

The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman's Finger

1992
Movie
89 min
English

Based on Nicholas Ellenbogen's play of A Nativity, the trilingual (Afrikaans, English and Zulu) film tells a hilarious story about a government backed effort to put on a multiracial production of a play production of a nativity play by the local post office's staff in a tiny backwater village, on the eve of the new democracy.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Director: Jean-Jacques BeineixGenres: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Plot Summary

A young woman, seeking a distraction from her mundane life, becomes involved with a charming but eccentric photographer. Their relationship spirals into a bizarre and humorous adventure involving a stolen bicycle, a cryptic artifact, and a series of increasingly strange encounters. As their journey unfolds, the lines between reality and fantasy blur, leading to unexpected revelations and a surreal exploration of desire and obsession.

Critical Reception

The film received a mixed reception from critics, who were divided on its avant-garde style and unconventional narrative. While some praised Beineix's distinctive visual flair and the film's unique blend of humor and melancholy, others found it overly pretentious and difficult to follow. Audience reactions were similarly varied, with some appreciating its artistic ambition and others dismissing it as an inaccessible oddity.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its striking visual style and Beineix's characteristic artistic direction.

  • Criticized for a convoluted and sometimes baffling narrative structure.

  • Noted for its unique blend of dark humor and melancholic romanticism.

Google audience: Information not available.

Fun Fact

The film's title, 'The Angel, the Bicycle and the Chinaman's Finger,' is deliberately enigmatic and reflects the surreal and dreamlike quality of the narrative.

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