rating:
(out of
4 stars)Italy, France; 1960
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni; produced by Cino Del Luca, Raymond Hakim, Robert Hakim, Amato Pennasilico, Luciano Pergugia; written by Michelangelo Antonioni, Elio Bartolini, Tonino Guerra
Starring Gabriele Ferzetti, Monica Vitti, Lea Massari, Dominique Blanchar, Renzo Ricci, James Addams
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
A couple of bored rich friends are having a cruise on a yacht. They rest
near an island, swim to it, walk around on it. We learn to know Sandro
(Gabriele Ferzetti), his lover Anna (Lea MAssari), her best friend Claudia
(Monica Vitti) and some others. Sandro and Anna have a little argument and
right after that she disappears.
We here a boat, but never see one. We think we see something in the
distance, but it seems the film only wants to think us that. While the
characters search the island, that exists out of rocks and grass, we hear
Giovanni Fusco's haunting score for the first time in the film. It makes the
images even more haunting. Then something strange happens. While they wait
for others to help, Sandro kisses Anna's best friend. We have no idea what
they are both thinking.
The story continues with the search for Anna, or so it seems. The story is
really about the affair Sandro and Claudia are having. It is intriguing to
see since the scenes before this have shown we can never be quite sure what
they think. Do they like or even love each other? It seems they are just
rich people trying to kill their lonely time. With each other and with
searching for a third person.
The film keeps us interested right until the end, although the final part
plays too long. We are never sure what will happen next and we are never
sure what the film is really about, not until it is over. Too bad the ending
can be dull for some, the haunting vision on rich people's boredom gives us
a terrific movie from great director Michelangelo Antonioni.