John Turturro Shines in 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York'

Noah Segan's nostalgic character study celebrates a bygone era in the city.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A melancholic affection for New York City permeates writer-director Noah Segan's 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,' a minor-key character study that quietly mourns a bygone era. Longtime actor Segan's sophomore feature follows the 60-something Bronx man Harry, played by John Turturro in a mesmerizingly tender performance, as he lovingly cares for his disabled, nonverbal wife Rosie and navigates the changing city around him.

Why it matters

The film offers a nostalgic look at an older, more analog New York, exploring themes of loss and the passing of time through the lens of a skilled pickpocket struggling to adapt to a modernizing world. Turturro's nuanced performance is a highlight, bringing depth and humanity to a character who could have been a mere caricature.

The details

Set against a groovy, '70s-style score, the film follows Harry as he moves through the stuffed subway cars of the Big Apple, using his pickpocketing skills to make ends meet. The story quietly mourns the loss of a bygone era, when life was more tactile and criminals had a certain code of honor.

  • The film is set in the present day, though it evokes a nostalgic, analog era of New York City.

The players

John Turturro

An acclaimed actor known for his versatile performances in films like 'The Big Lebowski' and 'Barton Fink', Turturro delivers a mesmerizing and tender turn as the film's protagonist, Harry.

Noah Segan

The writer-director of 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York', Segan is a longtime actor who makes his sophomore feature with this nostalgic character study.

Karina Arroyave

Arroyave plays Rosie, Harry's disabled and nonverbal wife, in a supporting role that adds depth and emotional resonance to the film.

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What they’re saying

“A melancholic affection for New York City permeates writer-director Noah Segan's nostalgia-powered 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,' a minor-key character study that quietly mourns a bygone era, when life was analog, and so were its criminals.”

— Tomris Laffly, Critic (IMDb)

“Often accompanied by a groovy, '70s-style score of the Lalo Schifrin jazz-funk variety, the 60-something Bronx man Harry is certainly trying his darndest to maintain some semblance of that past.”

— Tomris Laffly, Critic (IMDb)

The takeaway

Through its elegantly tender character study, 'The Only Living Pickpocket in New York' offers a nostalgic and melancholic look at a bygone era in New York City, using John Turturro's nuanced performance to explore themes of loss, change, and the struggle to hold onto the past in a rapidly modernizing world.