John Turturro stars in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

John Turturro stars in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York as Harry, a thief who lifts wallets, watches, and other valuable items off unsuspecting pedestrians in New York City without his targets ever noticing until he is long gone.

The film is written and directed by Noah Segan and released by Sony Pictures Classics.

For years, Harry has managed to stay alive as a pickpocket in New York City, despite numerous clashes with Detective Warren—portrayed by Giancarlo Esposito—who is nearing retirement from the force. Harry cares deeply for his wife, Rosie, played by Karina Arroyave, who is bedridden, catatonic, and nonverbal and requires constant care.

THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK | Starring John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito, & Steve Buscemi

Harry Targets the Wrong Man and Triggers the Mob

Early in the film, Harry targets Dylan, a loud-mouthed, cocky young man played by Will Price who drives a fully restored 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. Harry lifts Dylan’s wallet and breaks into the car, finding a gym bag containing an expensive watch, a credit-card-shaped USB drive, and a pistol.

Keeping the cash and the USB drive for himself, Harry discards the bag and the firearm into a subway trash receptacle before proceeding with his day.

Dylan is connected to the mob. When Harry’s friend plugs the USB drive into a computer, it sends out a signal that Dylan can trace. The situation threatens Harry’s criminal career and places Rosie and everyone who knows him in grave danger.

To save Rosie, whom Dylan holds hostage, Harry must retrieve the drive he has since sold and bring it back to Dylan. Dylan makes sure Harry knows he is a dead man, even if he saves Rosie.

John Turturro stars in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York

The Film Uses a 1970s New York Aesthetic

The modern-day story is shot in a way that makes it look like New York in the 1970s, giving it a striking vintage vibe. Harry is described as a relic of that era whose street smarts have served him well, though he has not quite kept pace with a digital world.

The production has been hailed as a love letter to New York City, featuring supporting performances from Steve Buscemi as Ben and Victoria Moroles as Eve.