L’amore in città
Directed in segments by: Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, Alberto Lattuada, Carlo Lizzani, Francesco Maselli, Dino Risi, Cesare Zavattini (IT 1953)
In Italian with French subtitles; 105’, color
 
Film of the Neorealist period in six episodes directed by six directors (among them Federico Fellini and Dino Risi). The aim of the film was to describe the lives of “common” people. The episode Tentato suicidio, directed by Antonioni – well supported by the use of a black and white format – tells about three women who, after the end of their love stories, attempt suicide. The film is preceded by Antonioni’s short documentary N.U. (Nettezza Urbana - Urban Trash).
 
 
Cronaca di un amore (Story of a Love Affair)
Michelangelo Antonioni (IT 1950)
Italian with English subtitles; 98’, black and white
 
An unfaithful wife is planning to assassinate her rich husband, when he unexpectedly dies. The woman and her lover will continue to live in torment. This debut film by Antonioni – in a powerful black and white contrast – did not have great success even if one could see how it already contained the cold elegance of his following works that made his fame. The film is preceded by Antonioni’s documentary Gente del Po - People of the Po Valley (1943) about the life of the river Po’s fishermen.
 
 
La signora senza camelie (The Lady without Camelias)
Michelangelo Antonioni (IT 1952)
In Italian with English subtitles;105’, black and white

This early work of Antonioni about a lower class girl launched into the movie star system was prompted by the biography of Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida. The young and ambitious star marries her producer, a rich and much older man. However, climbing on to a higher social class determines the decline of the actress.
In his third film Antonioni portrays in an utterly somber way the post war movie industry in Cinecittà studios, the triumphant realm of egoism and cynicism.
 
 
Professione: Reporter
Michelangelo Antonioni (IT 1975)
In Italian with English subtitles; 119’, color

A journalist researching a documentary in the Sahara Desert meets a gunrunner who dies suddenly. When the journalist notices that they have a similar appearance, he assumes the recently deceased’s identity and accepts the consequences that it brings.

 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 


 
 
 
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Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007) started his career during World War II with a collaboration, as a screenplay writer, for Roberto Rossellini and as an assistant director of Marcel Carné. In 1951 the unemotional film Cronaca di un amore marked his debut. Later the sentimental trilogy L'avventura (1960), La notte (1961) and L'eclisse (1962), with actress Monica Vitti, Antonioni's inspiring muse, made him one of the most famous and representative directors of the sixties. Remarkable in his works, is his special attention for the stylistic form, as shown in the shooting of the oppressive urban architectures and landscapes as well as the controlled use of dialog and the role of the sound track as a narrative support. With Blow up (1966) and Professione: Reporter (1975) Antonioni confirmed his importance as a remarkable director. He was awarded an Oscar (Best Director). Later Antonioni directed Identificazione di una donna (1982) for which he received a nomination for the Golden Palm at Cannes Festival and Al di là delle nuvole (1995 with Wim Wenders co-director) and received an Oscar for his career. Michelangelo Antonioni died at the age of 94.