SYNOPSIS
A young girl, whose parents recently divorced, reconciles the uncertainties of life during daily bicycle rides with her father. Each day they observe the lives of neighbors and share their thoughts about love, death, separation, and the joy and challenges sudden changes bring to one’s existence.
CREW
Written & Directed by Bernard Attal
Produced by Michael Fix & Mario Ducoudray
Director of Photography: Bryce Fortner
Production Design: Anne Mourier Attal
Production Coordinator: Roy Glorioso
Editor: Stephan Talneau
Music: Silvain Vanot
Sound Design: Pierre Dachery
First Assistant Director: Marion Attal
CAST
| Nina Attal | Nina |
| Peter Welch | Dad |
| Jim Freeman | Sad lawyer |
| Frank DeFalco | Mom's boyfriend |
| Rosario Glorioso | Contractor |
| Carlos Gorbea | Man with dog |
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I wrote this film as I was starting to recover from a painful separation. For father and daughter, the bike is the home that they no longer have together. Little by little, the dialogue is being reestablished between both. Together, they observe the outside world, as if watching a film. And life becomes fascinating again.
PRODUCTION NOTES
In order to provide the director with his vision of the film as a moving canvas in which the camera was in essence an extension of the bicycle, a unique method of filming was required. Not satisfied with a traditional ‘doorway dolly’ that can only fit two individuals, a dolly of extraordinary size and versatility was designed. Built as a moving platform with a variety of attachment points for the bicycle, the actors could be filmed from the front or the side while pedaling. In addition, the dolly accommodated upwards of seven passengers, lighting equipment and of course the camera itself. As most of the action takes place outdoors, the production was hoping for clear skies. Of course, it rained. Up and down the streets the crew went, pulling the moving platform, attempting to avoid water filled potholes, passing cars and curious pedestrians. Finally, in order to make the story somewhat timeless, it became necessary to clear the streets of parked cars. In New York City, this was obviously no small task, even with the full support of the Film Commission, and required late hours of posting signs, removing and replacing vehicles. A Bike Ride was shot with the RED One camera in 4K resolution, and transferred on 35mm at Technicolor.
DIRECTOR BIO
Bernard Attal was born in France, is a former child actor and entrepreneur. At the age of 40, he decided to dedicate himself to filmmaking. He studied at NYU and the New School, and now lives between New York and Bahia, Brazil. He wrote, produced and directed two short films, 29 Inches, and Rat Island, which participated and won awards in festivals throughout the world. Bernard recently started production on Cara Lucia, a documentary about light in our daily life, and finished shooting Os Magnificos, a documentary for Brazilian TV. He is currently developing The Invisible Collection, a feature film based on a short story by Stefan Zweig. In 2008, he was selected to participate in the Talent Campus of the Berlin International Film Festival.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Duration: 13 min
Shooting Format: RED One and Super-8
Screening Format: 35mm, HD Cam, Digi Beta and DVD
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby SRD
Locations: Brooklyn Heights, Vinegar Hill and Clinton Hills, Brooklyn NY