Chronicle of a Death Foretold (film)

Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Italian theatrical release poster
Directed by	Francesco Rosi
Produced by	Yves Gasser
Written by	Tonino Guerra
Starring	Ornella Muti Rupert Everett Anthony Delon Gian Maria Volontè Sergi Mateu
Music by	Piero Piccioni
Cinematography	Pasqualino De Santis
Edited by	Ruggero Mastroianni
Release date	8 May 1987 (France)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	Italy France Colombia
Language	Spanish

Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Italian: Cronaca di una morte annunciata, Spanish: Crónica de una muerte anunciada) is a drama film directed by Francesco Rosi adapted by Tonino Guerra from the eponymous novella by Gabriel García Márquez. It stars Rupert Everett, Ornella Muti, Anthony Delon and Gian Maria Volontè. The film premiered at Cannes film festival in May 1987.

Cristóbal Bedoya, a medical doctor, returns to his hometown, a small Colombian city in the banks of the Magdalena river, after being away for twenty seven years. At the local cemetery, he visits the grave of Santiago Nasar, his best friend, who was murdered almost three decades ago. Still haunted by the past, Cristóbal attempts to revisits the event that lead to his friend's murder talking with those close to Santiago. Their memories take them to the time of the crime.

On the day he was eventually killed, Santiago Nasar had a dream about birds that his mother mistakenly took as a good omen of good health. Six months before, a handsome, young foreigner arrives to the town. His name is Bayardo San Román. Little is known about him except that he is very rich and in want of a wife. Bayardo is soon smitten by the extraordinary beauty of a local girl, Angela Vicario. She is uninterested in his advances, but Bayardo does whatever it takes to win her approval by showering her with gifts. The next time Bayardo sees her, she is selling tickets for a raffle at a town event. He buys all of the remaining tickets and wins a music box, which he then has delivered to her house as a gift. Bayardo asks Angela what house she likes best, and she replies that she likes the one that belongs to the widower Xius. The widower insists that the house is not for sale, but Bayardo keeps offering more and more money until Xius gives in.