Death of a Cyclist

Director - Juan Antonio Bardem
Writers - Juan Antonio Bardem & Luis Fernando de Igoa

Cast Character
Lucia Bosè ... María José de Castro
Alberto Closas ... Juan Fernandez Soler
Otello Toso ... Miguel Castro
Bruna Corra ... Matilde Luque
Carlos Casaravilla ... Rafael "Rafa" Sandoval

While returning to Madrid after an illicit tryst, a wealthy socialite housewife and a university professor accidentally strike a bicyclist with their car. Although they see that he is still alive after the accident, they know they cannot summon help for him without their affair being revealed. They drive away and leave him to die. After the bicyclist's death is reported in the newspaper, the pair deal with ever-rising tension, borne from their fear that their deeds will be exposed. - Wikipedia

Why does one cheat? A man cheats because he is biologically programmed to do so. It is in his DNA. In order for his children to survive he hardwired to inseminate as many women as possible. Desirable men attract desirable women and vice versa because in our DNA we see that an attractive person has the most capability of being impregnated. Taller and stronger men are seen to be more protective therefore more sexually attractive while women with bigger breasts are seen to be better suited to milk and raise their children. This goes back to caveman days and is unconscious. He also cheats because a man is always yearning for freedom and commitment does not fit into that equation. Women often cheat while ovulating and according to the Sperm Wars writer Robin Baker 10% of people have fathers who they are unaware of. It is now said that number maybe up to 20%. So women unconsciously seek men who are able to give them a baby who will most likely survive and that is with a stronger mate. Men and women also use "peacocking" to demonstrate high status and desirable traits but body language cues to power. The funniest of these is when someone sees some they are attracted to is by taking up more space - leaning back, straightening one's posture and preening by women. Peacocking is also referred to wearing jewelry or physical items to stand apart and to "self decorate."

The film Death of a Cyclist begins as a an adulterous couple accidentally run over a cyclist and decide to to leave him there dying for fear of their relationship being exposed. Juan wants to go back but Maria tells him to leave. She enjoys a party with her husband and friends along with Rafa, the piano player. He plays music which entices Maria. She asks him what's it called? He says, "Blackmail." He tells her he saw her last night in her Fiat and she is not sure whether he means the accident or the affair.

The film hints at Film Noir with a despairing world, irredeemable characters and high contrast lighting. Jorge and Carmina are dating creating a tension of power as Juan is Carmina's brother who wants to rise above his assistant professor status in the university he teaches. Jorge is the dean and the only person who can make that happen. The next scene has Carmila lamenting that her brother is a failure because he doesn't want to do anything. Juan is disgusted and jealous seeing a newsreel at the movie theater about his dean and brother-in-law. He sees how powerful and far reaching his influence is.

In Maria Jose's and Miguel's room there are hieroglyphic characters on the wall showing there is some code they use to keep each-other in the dark. Her guilt of accidentally killing a cyclist is nonexistent whereas Juan can barely sleep. She disassociates from her feelings. Meanwhile Matilde at the university does a problem on the board while Juan reads a newspaper. He sees the headlines Death of a Cyclist and the tension rises with a close-up to his face. This is the perfect place to feel vulnerable because he is in front of all his students in the class feeling naked.

When Juan reveals to Maria Jose that the cyclist died it is appropriately at the horse track showing they are gambling with their life and their chances of getting away clean are decreasing. Rafa asks Maria Jose if she has seen the paper and reads the headline, "Death of a Cyclist" to show her he knows what they did. Juan hears this too. Only Maria understands that Rafa is threatening them. They go to a children's show to talk privately and lighten their sense of guilt. They go to regain their innocence.

Matilde Luque says she failed the exam because Juan was reading the newspaper while she was trying to show her presentation. He failed her not paying attention to what she was doing. Now she pleads with him to change the grade. He tells her to see the dean. He says his personal problems distracted him but Matilde calls him selfish and walks out.

The greatest tension in the film is Maria's dilemma finding out whether Rafa knows that she and Juan accidentally killed someone or that they are having an affair. The latter would be better but is still bad enough. It is appropriate that he threatens her at an abstract art exhibit because he is vague in what he is blackmailing her about. This adds to her anxiety. He tells her he wants money and to have her.

Juan, now doing his reporting work, visits Ms. Tejedor in a slum to ask some questions for a local paper. He learns from the landlord that a car hit Ms. Tejedor's husband. She tells him secret police talked to her. Maria tells Juan she hates Rafa because he is always gossiping. She tries to subtly convince him that there is more going on with what Rafa is doing but Juan doesn't pick up on this. Juan calls her to calm her down and an interesting shot shows Maria's face hidden with the mirror showing Rafa's conniving presence in the background outside.

When Maria and Juan talk again he says he would have married her if he didn't have to go to war. He is angry she didn't wait for him and instead married the rich Miguel. They talk about their complicated affair and what would happen to both if they were exposed. When she is with her husband they talk about how once Juan was a sweetheart of Maria's. The way they are framed is interesting with Miguel behind her not seeing each-other's faces. Miguel hints that a family name can be so easily tarnished especially with a murder. Her husband goes on the tell her a story of a prominent couple who lost everything because the woman cheated on her husband. The husband left her without a penny. She asks him who told him the story. He says Rafa.

The movie is frightening because it deals with upper class elites maintaining their manners and demeanor while being paranoid about being exposed of having an affair and an accidental murder. The frequent social parties they have to attend adds to the tension as the couple talk and try to fit into their pre-made roles. Maria and Juan confront Rafa trying to get information and Miguel sits with Rafa. Soon we see they are at war. Rafa hits the high key on the piano to build tension and to mock both Juan and Maria. In the hallway Juan confronts Rafa to get information and Rafa now drunk says he knows despicable things about him.

He goes inside to watch a flamenco performance and the high emotion of the music coincide with the intensity of what Juan is going through. Rafa whispers in Maria's and Miguel's ear something which cannot be heard. Rafa finally reveals what he knows and says he saw the cyclist on the road with Juan and Maria. Miguel is convinced his wife has done nothing.

Things compound as a riot erupts because Matilde was failed by Juan and they want answers. Instead of being angry Juan is joyed at the riot because they are fighting for Matilde in a just cause. It is the only thing right and pure in his life right now. The solidarity and justice he sees gives him something to yearn for in his corrupted life. He tells her he is not angry at her and she is relieved.

When Maria and Juan meet at the church she is happy and tells him Rafa knew nothing. Miguel believed nothing about Rafa. They use this setting as a way to absolve guilt like that of a confessional. She wants to do the right thing and send some money to the widow. Juan runs into Matilde and gives her an envelope with his resignation inside. He calls Maria and she tells him Miguel will take her on a trip abroad. he tells her that should turn themselves in to the police. She says she will go with him.

Miguel tells Maria she is selfish, greedy and lustful only caring about what he represents and not him as a person. He tells her he gave everything to her particularly her lifestyle and he can take it away. He gives her a time when the plane will leave and says she must make a decision - him or Juan. The next scene has Juan and Maria together and Juan takes comfort in re-instilling some dignity to his life after his crime. She asks him what he would do if she refused to see the police. He says he'd still go.

Matilde gives Juan's mother the resignation letter and warns he might be in danger because of something he said. Juan and Maria go to the spot where the cyclist died and feels relieved he is going to do the first right thing in so long. Fearing the worse Maria does the unthinkable and shows her true colors. Her worries proved to be of her own concern rather than the repentance Juan sought.