Death of a Cyclist
Death of a Cyclist • 1h 27m
Directed by Juan Antonio Bardem • 1955 • Spain
Starring Alberto Closas, Lucia Bosé, Otello Toso
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.
Up Next in Death of a Cyclist
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Calle Bardem
The following 2005 documentary, directed by Alberto Leal, features interviews with Juan Antonio Bardem’s collaborators and peers, including his writing partner Luis García Berlanga, as well as critics and scholars discussing his revolutionary achievements in Spanish cinema.
