Not being a bicycle enthusiast I find it hard to understand why anyone could be so interested in the history of cycling. However, after watching 'Bicycle' I realised that the history of the bike is a lot more interesting than you would think. The documentary's cinematic style, music, and individual stories, 'Bicycle' is a film that not only informs but mostly entertains.
The film follows the history of the bicycle as well as the stories of the people who ride them, asking the question: why is the bicycle suddenly so popular? To answer this, director Michael Clifford interviews a range of cyclists from professionals to everyday riders. The film is clearly aimed at bicycle lovers and their inspirations, with sections of bike history that can be enjoyed by anyone.
The animation used throughout is one of the highlights of the documentary, most notably the section emulating the MBE Olympic Gold winner Chris Boardman in his winning track race. The clip was recreated as they were not able to use the original due to copyright. Fortunately, this setback further adds to the visual style of the film as well as conveying the significance of the historic turning point in cycling history.
The use of individual stories is what resonated with me the most. The film allowed us to get to know the quirky bicycle mechanic Mike Burrows and the dedicated track champion Danielle Khan, this gave the film a personal and human element that elicits an emotional reaction from the audience. These vignettes give faces to the numbers of the bicycles growing fan base and truly answer the films question through their raw passion for such a simple piece of mechanics.
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