Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Cyclist (1987)

Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Image Entertainment)

Nasim is an Afghan refugee in Iran. He is penniless, so when his wife takes ill and ends up in the hospital he is desperate for money. An Iranian swindler convinces him to put on a public circus, charging money for people to watch him ride a bike in a circle for 7 days straight. Huge bets are made on its outcome. When it looks like he is going to make it, several attempts are made to see that he doesn't. Iranian director Makhmalbaf borrows heavily from the palette of Fellini, with a flair for unusual faces and the surreal, circus-like atmosphere, but also with a poignant story of the desperation of the poor.

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