Overview
A master of deception navigates the shadows of Paris, where every pocket holds a secret.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- austere
- brooding
- intimate
- quiet evening
- classic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Robert Bresson’s austere crime drama as a major masterpiece, praising its precision, intensity, influence, and emotional power.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michel’s systematic pickpocketing externalizes his isolation, materialism, and estrangement from ordinary social life.
Bresson observes Michel’s daily routines and theft techniques through restrained performances and economical storytelling.
Michel’s unsociability and criminal detachment gradually confront the emotional consequences of his choices and his bond with Jeanne.
Parisian streets, surveillance, poverty, and anonymous crowds frame Michel’s relationship to modern society and materialism.
Films like Pickpocket, and why
A Man Escaped
shared austere crime drama, spiritual introspection, and morally isolated protagonist
Taxi Driver
shared minimalist realism, alienated male protagonist, and crime as a social and psychological condition
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
shared French art-house atmosphere, romantic longing, and urban marginality
L'Enfant
shared restrained crime narrative, moral ambiguity, and observational treatment of social alienation
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Bresson
- Release Date
- 1959-12-16
- Runtime
- 75 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (592)
Cast
- Martin LaSalle
- Marika Green
- Jean Pélégri
- Dolly Scal
- Pierre Leymarie
- Kassagi
- Pierre Étaix
- César Gattegno
- Sophie Saint-Just
- Dominique Zardi
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Pickpocket about?
- A solitary Parisian pickpocket turns his evasive craft into a grim philosophy of modern alienation before an unexpected human bond unsettles his isolation.
- What is Pickpocket like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Pickpocket as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Pickpocket violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Pickpocket.
- What did critics think of Pickpocket?
- Critics broadly regard Robert Bresson’s austere crime drama as a major masterpiece, praising its precision, intensity, influence, and emotional power.
- Which films are like Pickpocket?
- Films with a similar feel include A Man Escaped, Taxi Driver, Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, and L'Enfant.
- How long is Pickpocket?
- Pickpocket runs 75 minutes.
- Where can I watch Pickpocket?
- In United States, Pickpocket is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
