L’Avventura - Antonioni asks Cannes if they can imagine a revolution

Antonioni’s defence and partial explanation of L’Avventura at Cannes is a surprising and thought provoking statement which encourages viewers to take his deconstruction of modern ills to radical conclusions.
Below is a guide to the sources I used in this video:
The private footage of L’Avventura’s filming and the interview with Monica Vitti are both from the excellent documentary Antonioni: Documents and Testimonials (1966), which is available on the Criterion Collection L’Avventura Blu-ray and on the streaming channel.
The French news footage of Cannes in 1960 can be found here: fresques.ina.fr/festival-de-c...
The translation of Antonioni’s statement can be found here: www.criterion.com/current/pos...
However this translation was criticised in a film quarterly article I read from the time and so I actually transcribed it from a reading by Jack Nicholson which used a seemingly better translation as far as I am able to tell when comparing the two side by side. This recording is also on the Blu-ray and streaming channel but puts a few different writings by Antonioni into one video back to back so to understand where his Cannes statement starts and ends you have to cross reference it with the other translation.
The account of L’Avventura’s chaotic filming was taken from the collection of writings on and by Antonioni, The Architecture of Vision (1996). The section used being: The Adventures of L’Avventura (Antonioni 1976 Pg.78, trans Cooper).
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[@paulstreet763]

Outstanding observational notes on Antonioni and Vitti’s Masterpiece. Thank you. The iconic Monica Vitti just passed yesterday, joining Antonioni. It is through the power of their films these seminal artistes have left us with these indelible observations on the human condition. Themes and thoughts that will continue to inspire, confuse, and communicate what it means to be human, to live, love and face loss. L’Adventura will continue to inspire these existential questions for generations to come.. Long after we are gone, these Artists and this Cinematic force of nature will continue to resonate. It will stand the testament of time, alongside the ancient Aeolian Islands where it was created. RIP Monica Vitti. Your power, poise and beauty redefined Women’s performance in Cinema.

[@Anthony_MD]

One of the most innovative, beautiful films. Great insights!

[@garrison6863]

This film was revolutionary when it was first screened. Because Antonioni had used a style of directing and visual composition that had not really been witnessed before. His camera often lingered over an actress or a scene mush more leisurely in an effort to expand time and make it more expansive, like real time. Most people were not ready for this. He also had an ability to compose complicated scenes in order to bring out their thematic meanings. The whole long last scene is simply masterly from beginning to end and the final shot is iconic.

[@josb9836]

One of the best film reviews on TH-cam. Thank you 🙏

[@sky44david]

The most excellent and depthful consideration of L'Avventura.

[@LouisFPak]

Thank you for these notes…very insightful and well reasoned.! All creative persons should observe and remember this film.

[@Calmere]

Thank you ... look what I stumbled upon ... that was very well put :)

[@MrFloco39]

Just found out about your videos. This is great ! Keep it up

[@Avatrus]

Great insights! Subscribed to your channel - waiting for more videos! :)

[@ihavebeenthere1874]

Wooow! Great! Bravo! 🌟🌟🌟

[@mahtabprattus1381]

Great video
Tysm!

[@nhac-space]

keep going. love your works

[@chrisfisher6700]

Brilliant comments on an important film

[@nicomercado7252]

Criterion Channel???

[@charlottepembroke5446]

I watched this movie today - but I found the ending very unsatisfactory; we never found out what happened to Anna and the man seems to be excused at the end in a kind of 'boys will be boys' kind of a way.

[@lastunctives2095]

Wonder what the remake of it today would look like ? Would that be absurd - yes but it was such a blue print a foundation of cinema then but can we return to the old master ? Or are we in aspic like the closing scene of the passenger ... reality as such is beyond film ?

[@maggiegatsby4577]

i for one find that, you comment too fast about too much. All the while, you add more and more abstract terms and vague words, which create some more confusion. (If only, someone truly bothered to comment on the substance of your presentation and not merely its ..impressionistic achievement.)
Wish you would choose some other cadence, a listener/reader friendly pace, while breaking down your premises, enough to build a solid flow, presenting your reasoning in crystal clear instead of quite (the) opaque terms.
Despite as 'witholding', inarguably how generous of you to share your precious thoughts..!
Thank you.

[@atthebijou8209]

just watch the film

[@josmafer4133]

Antonioni is not existentialist, exactly the opposite