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Death of a Cyclist

Play trailer Poster for Death of a Cyclist 1955 1h 27m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Professor Juan (Alberto Closas) is sleeping with Maria (Lucía Bosé), who's married to a rich man. After one such tryst, Juan is driving Maria home when he accidentally strikes and kills a cyclist. But Juan is at a crucial stage in his career, Maria adores her luxurious lifestyle and both lovers fear that this incident will cause a scandal that upsets their lives. They flee the scene, but Rafa (Carlos Casaravilla), one of Maria's wealthy peers, confronts the couple with blackmail on his mind.
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Death of a Cyclist

Critics Reviews

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Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 09/10/2019
4/4
The film is a leftist commentary on bourgeois Spain under Franco, but its passion and sensitive observation transcend its political intent. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club 09/10/2019
B+
Death Of A Cyclist addresses all the grievances that Bardem mentioned at Salamanca, and it succeeds most at capturing the general climate of fear and oppression in Franco's Spain. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce Slant Magazine 04/27/2008
2.5/4
Explicitly designed as a shock to the system, Death of a Cyclist too often settles for academic subversion. Go to Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film 08/04/2024
4/5
Although frustrating at times with a questionable ending, Death of a Cyclist also benefits from nuanced directing which brings out the best in this story about crime and attempts at redemption. Go to Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times 09/10/2019
4/5
Juan Antonio Bardem still manages to paint an unflattering portrait of the Madrid bourgeoisie, with its self-indulgence, hypocrisy and shameless ambition contrasting unfavourably with the dignity of the poor and the anger of the young. Go to Full Review Marco Lanzagorta PopMatters 09/10/2019
The result is a dramatic story that deeply resonates with the cultural anxieties that Spanish society endured under the regime of General Francisco Franco. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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dave s 08/30/2022 Juan (Alberto Closas), a math instructor, and Maria Jose (Lucia Bose), the wife of a wealthy businessman, are having an affair. Returning to Madrid through a desolate Spanish landscape after a clandestine meeting, they strike and injure a man on a bicycle. In order to protect their reputations and avoid detection, they leave the scene of the accident and later deal with their guilt when the accident victim dies. Set during the reign of Francisco Franco, Death of a Cyclist is clearly a condemnation of the class divide that existed during Franco's fascist rule, the wealthy protecting their own selfish interests at the expense of the poor. The acting is excellent, especially the luminous Bose, much of the cinematography is stunning, most notably the rural scenes, and Juan Antonio Bardem's direction, highlighted by many long, uninterrupted takes, is flawless. See more 06/19/2016 6.4/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2uh See more 01/20/2015 Obra maestra del cine español ,pelicula atemporal con un mensaje que se podrìa aplicar a nuestra sociedad de hoy en dìa , una fotografìa y planos impecables .Imprescindible. See more 07/15/2014 A strange and wonderful twist on the "Getting away with murder" genre. See more 02/07/2014 A Spanish-like Hitchcockian delight! See more 06/21/2013 Excelente melodrama espanhol, com o poder do thriller numa mão e com o noir na outra, é um daqueles coices apontados ao estômago que abre caminho para o "Eyes Wide Shut" e para o Woody Allen mais intriguista. See more Read all reviews
Death of a Cyclist

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Cast & Crew

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Juan Antonio Bardem

Director

Lucía Bosé

María José de Castro

Manuel Alexandre

Ciclista que provoca accidente María José

Emilio Alonso

Jorge

Manuel Arbó

Padre Iturioz

Carlos Casaravilla

Rafael "Rafa" Sandoval
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Death of a Cyclist

Death of a Cyclist (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Professor Juan (Alberto Closas) is sleeping with Maria (Lucía Bosé), who's married to a rich man. After one such tryst, Juan is driving Maria home when he accidentally strikes and kills a cyclist. But Juan is at a crucial stage in his career, Maria adores her luxurious lifestyle and both lovers fear that this incident will cause a scandal that upsets their lives. They flee the scene, but Rafa (Carlos Casaravilla), one of Maria's wealthy peers, confronts the couple with blackmail on his mind.
Director
Juan Antonio Bardem
Producer
Georges de Beauregard, Manuel J. Goyanes
Screenwriter
Juan Antonio Bardem
Production Co
Trionfalcine, Guión Producciones Cinematográficas, Suevia Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
European Spanish
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 28, 2015
Runtime
1h 27m
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