The film stars John Turturro as Harry Lehman, an aging pickpocket who has spent decades navigating the streets and subways of New York. Once a master of his craft, Harry now finds himself increasingly out of place in a city transformed by technology and changing habits. The traditional targets of pickpockets—bulging wallets, luxury watches and loose cash—have largely disappeared in an era dominated by smartphones, digital payments and surveillance cameras.
Harry survives through a small network of acquaintances, including his longtime friend Ben, played by Steve Buscemi, who runs a pawn shop where stolen items can be discreetly exchanged for cash. Harry also cares for his wife Rosie, whose illness adds urgency to his need to keep working despite his age and the risks involved.
The plot is set in motion when Harry unknowingly steals a wallet containing a small USB card belonging to a wealthy young man named Dylan. What seems like a routine theft quickly escalates into a dangerous situation when Harry learns that the device controls access to a digital fortune—and that its owner has powerful criminal connections. As a result, Harry is forced into a frantic race across New York City to recover the missing card before the consequences catch up with him.
The film’s ensemble cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito, Tatiana Maslany and Jamie Lee Curtis, each portraying characters who intersect with Harry’s increasingly precarious journey through the city.
At the Berlinale press conference, actor Turturro explained what drew him to the role of Harry, emphasizing the character’s old-fashioned approach to life in a modern world. “I’m not a completely analogue person,” he told journalists, “but I do miss some of that… the interactions that happen when we’re not all looking at our phones.” He added that it was refreshing to play “characters who actually do things physically” and interact directly with the environment around them.
Director Segan also spoke about his personal connection to the setting of the film. A native New Yorker, he said he wanted the story to capture the atmosphere of the city he grew up in. “Capturing the soul and energy of our city was a requirement,” he explained in interviews about the film, noting that working with actors like Turturro, Buscemi and Esposito—performers closely associated with New York cinema—helped create an authentic portrait of the city.
For Segan, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York represents an important step in his career as a filmmaker. Before directing, he was widely known as an actor who frequently collaborated with Rian Johnson, appearing in films such as Brick, Looper and the Knives Out series. His first feature as a director was the 2022 horror-comedy Blood Relatives, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Production on The Only Living Pickpocket in New York took place in 2025 across multiple boroughs of New York City. The filmmakers made a conscious decision to shoot extensively on location, using real streets, subway stations and neighborhoods to ground the film’s story in the everyday life of the city.
The Only Living Pickpocket in New York (USA)
Director: Noah Segan
Cast: John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, Giancarlo Esposito, Will Price, Tatiana Maslany
