Death of a Cyclist (1955)

I really loved this Spanish art film about an adulterous couple that commit hit-and-run manslaughter and fear they will be found out.  Great B&W cinematography. direction, acting, and dialogue. Another plus is the location shots of 1955 Spain - and the Spanish Civil War subtext. The cast if great - especially Lucia Bose as the adulterous wife - what a beautiful face! And then there's Carlos Casaravilla as the sly, villainous art critic/pianist.  His ability to change moods in mid-sentence was amazing. The supporting actors are pitch perfect.  The story isn't Hitchcock, its too realistic for that, but there are some interesting twists and turns. Until the end, I felt I was watching a movie about real people - not fake actors.

Cons?  The Music was sometimes intrusive. And then there's the ending - see spoiler discussion below.  Summary:  Excellent, if talky,  Spanish crime film that kept my interest. If you're in the right mood, its very enjoyable.  Rating *** 1/2 

The Ending (Spoilers) 
Sigh. I think there was a law back in the 1950's that every European Art film had to have a sad ending. Why couldn't Marie have bravely gone to the police station with Juan? Or why couldn't Juan have "Taken the fall" for Marie? This would've allowed her to reconcile with her husband and chastened,  agreed to sin no more.  Instead, we get Marie - seeing no way out - running Juan down in a fit of despair, and then dying herself when she speeds to catch a plane.

I agree there's an almost geometric logic/justice to it. They both pay for their misdeed. He dies for helping her get away with manslaughter, and the same reckless driving that killed the cyclist, kills her. But still, I would've liked a more noble ending for our characters.  BTW, I found it odd that SHE drove the car, but realized its a very expensive car and most Spaniards in 1955 didn't know how to drive.