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Main Street (Calle Mayor)

Juan Antonio Bardem
Spain / 1956 / 97 mins. / Spanish with English subtitles

In this sobering indictment of provincial hypocrisy, a bunch of bored middle-aged friends decides to play a trick on Isabel: Juan (José Suárez), the youngest and most handsome of all them, will pretend to fall in love with her. As Isabel lives the courtship full of hopes and joy, Juan realizes too late the cruelty of the situation; and, still pushed by his buddies, he doesn't dare tell Isabel the truth. Widely considered to be one of Bardem’s masterpieces, Main Street was eventually screened at the 1956 Venice Mostra where it won the
International Critics’ Prize after near-successful attempts by censors to block its distribution. To satisfy the censors, an initial foreword – claiming the events depicted could happen anywhere – was added.

Juan Antonio Bardem was born in Madrid in 1922. In 1951 shot, Happy Couple with Berlanga and participate in the screenplay ofWelcome Mr Marshall and Novio a la vista, both directed by Berlanga. In 1953 he founded the magazine Target. That same year he directed the first film of the complete authoring, Comedians. With Death of a Cyclist (1955) and Main Street (1956) get wide international recognition. Was arrested several times for his membership in the Communist Party. During the 60's and, especially, 70's, finds it increasingly difficult to carry out their projects. After Franco's death will be going up slowly with his productions.