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Death of a Cyclist

Muerte de un ciclista

Spain

1955

87 Min
Black and White
1.33:1
Spanish
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
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DIR Juan Antonio Bardem

PROD Manuel J. Goyanes

DP Alfredo Fraile

CAST Alberto Closas, Lucía Bosé, Otello Toso, Carlos Casaravilla

ED Margarita Ochoa

Cannes: FIPRESCI Prize

Synopsis

Upper-class geometry professor Juan and his wealthy, married mistress Maria José, driving back from a late-night rendezvous, accidentally hit a cyclist, and run. The resulting, exquisitely shot tale of guilt, infidelity, and blackmail reveals the wide gap between the rich and the poor in Spain, and surveys the corrupt ethics of a society seduced by decadence. Juan Antonio Bardem’s charged melodrama Death of a Cyclist (Muerte de un ciclista) was a direct attack on 1950s Spanish society under Franco’s rule. Though it was affected by the dictates of censorship, its sting could never be dulled. —The Criterion Collection

Director

Original

Juan Antonio Bardem

Juan Antonio Bardem (2 June 1922, Madrid – 30 October 2002, Madrid) was a Spanish screen writer and film director. He was best known for Muerte de un ciclista (1955) which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival, and Calle Mayor (1956). In 1993, he was a member of the jury at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival. Bardem is the uncle of actor Javier Bardem. —Wikipedia 

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ramosbarajas

26Feb13

Many elements are incredibly experimental, and they achieve so much that it's easy to overlook the flaws. The editing, especially, takes many risks in presenting the story in a disjointed manner, with abrupt cuts, that do not distract from the overall narrative. The dialogue is so rich and beautiful. I don't think there has been a film in my recent memory where the dialogue resonated so much from a poetic angle.

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Judicial Joe

12Sep12

A suspenseful morality play that uses a hit-and-run accident as a metaphor for the betrayal of Spain at the hands of Franco's fascists. "Though it was affected by the dictates of censorship, its sting could never be dulled," says Criterion. The sting is so intense that how it passed through the censors is beyond me.

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Gabriel

11Aug12

The flamenco scene is brilliant on so many levels ♥_♥.

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Lorna Singh

28Mar12

A simple story made into a compelling psychological thriller.Reminds of early Hitchcock,with added political and moral themes. Set during Franco's reign and showing no respect or love for the upper class,seen as hypocrites who supported the dictator.

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The Forgotten: Tightening the Screws

By David Cairns on April 15, 2009

Thanks to Natalia Caballero for introducing me to the work of Luis Garcia Berlanga. The Executioner. It doesn't sound much like the title

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Untitled

By Adam Suraf on December 13, 2008

The Criterion Collection release of Juan Antonio Bardem’s classic Spanish thriller, about an adulterous couple who accidentally strike a bicyclist and leave him for dead, for fear their affair will…  read review

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DVD

Buy the DVD from The Criterion Collection.