The Cyclist
The wife of Nasim, an Afghan immigrant in Iran, is gravely ill. He needs money to pay for her care, but his day labor digging wells does not pay enough. A friend connects Nasim to a two-bit promoter who sells tickets to watch Nasim ride a bicycle continuously for a week. The promoter brings in sick and aged spectators, haranguing them to find hope in Nasim's strength. Aided by his son, who feeds him as he rides, Nasim grinds out the days and shivering nights. Local officials believe this may be a plot and Nasim may be a spy; they try to sabotage him as do those who bet he won't finish the week. Will desperation alone get Nasim the money? Is any triumph an illusion?
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📋 Film Details
| Original Title | بایسیکلران |
| Year | 1989 |
| Country | Iran |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Mohsen Makhmalbaf |
| Runtime | 79 min. |
| Rating | TMDB: 6.7/10 (31 votes) |
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🎬 MovieFinder's Take
The film constructs a powerful social parable, exploring the limits of human endurance and the exploitation of despair. Director Mohsen Makhmalbaf relies on a near-documentary aesthetic to lay bare the mechanics of turning suffering into spectacle, where the on-screen audience reflects our own complicity.
What lingers after the final frame is a profound unease about the cyclical nature of hope and oppression. It’s a stark, unflinching inquiry into what dignity costs in a world that commodifies everything. — MovieFinder Editorial
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Best Watched
Watch in a quiet, contemplative setting, prepared for a slow-burning, hypnotic rhythm.
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