Daily Movie Rec 2/26/24
La Notte (1961)
"When we're young, we're so stupid, we can't imagine things coming to an end."
Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni
Cinematography by: Gianni Di Venanzo
Plot:
Lidia is trapped in a loveless marriage with her husband Giovanni, a rising star novelist, and when the two find themselves bored one night, they attend a party thrown by a wealthy industrialist where an alluring young woman catches Giovanni's attention.
Reasons to watch:
The second film of Antonioni's unofficial trilogy on modern alienation - a sort of anti-romance - La Notte oozes both impossible coolness and aching loneliness. It might be the most relaxed film about a disintegrating marriage you'll ever see, as in this case, the relaxed nature is a cover for overwhelming apathy and numbness. The subtle performances from the New Wave power trio of Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, and Monica Vitti feel effortless while still skillfully communicating the hidden emotions lingering under the surface of their characters' aloof personalities, especially the magnetic Moreau, who always hypnotizes with her powerfully nuanced acting style. La Notte's remarkably sharp writing makes it one of the standout screenplays of the 1960s, and when paired with the ace performances, Antonioni's patient and masterful direction, and DOP Gianni Di Venanzo's bewitchingly shadowed cinematography, La Notte is a must-watch of Italian cinema - helped out by being one of the director's most accessible works.
Where to watch:
The Criterion Channel/Max/Kanopy
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