The Unknown Cyclist Details

Love and loss made for TV

Another Californian gay/AIDS movie, with a made-for-TV feel. This one has a Friends-type set of characters at the centre, who are suitably engaging and have appropriately complicated relationships, with a resentful outsider to create the conflict. Everyone has moved on by the end, and there are one or two telling details along the way.

Speaking as a longtime cyclist, the cycle trip that creates the new environment the characters need is wholly unconvincing. These are people who've clearly never ridden a bike in anger - one of them can't ride without wobbling all over the road - and yet they do 75 miles a day for a week without getting saddle sore or stiff shoulders!

So it's worthy, but nothing more.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Sad and Funny

I chose this as I'd seen Danny Nucci in 'American Cousins' and wanted to see more of his films. However, it turned out to be an appropriate choice as, since putting it on the list, my (lesbian) partner of 36 years has been diagnosed with bone cancer and the doctors prognosis isn't good. This film gave us heart and hope and I've warned her, in the event of her not surviving, not to set me a test such as a long distance cycle ride or running a marathon! Kite flying on the beautiful island of Barra is about as much as I will (physically) be able to cope with!

Good fun, lots of laughs, lots of tears.

Perhaps a good choice in the circumstances.