Bob Rafelson (1933-2022) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer, a key figure of New Hollywood. Co-founder of BBS Productions (with Bert Schneider), an innovative, era-defining studio, Rafelson directed some of the period's most representative films.

His masterpiece, *Five Easy Pieces* (1970), starring Jack Nicholson, is a keen portrait of alienation and the search for identity in America, becoming a generational manifesto. Other important films include *The King of Marvin Gardens* (1972), also starring Nicholson, which continues the exploration of characters on the fringes and the illusion of the American dream. As a producer, he contributed to seminal films such as *Easy Rider* (1969).

His style is distinguished by its focus on solitary, disillusioned characters and anti-heroes, often traveling or adrift, reflecting a profound melancholy and social critique. His films capture the restlessness and the search for meaning in a rapidly transforming society.