Michelangelo Antonioni - Experimenter

Zabriskie Point (1970)

Michelangeleo Antonioni was an Italian modernist filmmaker who is renowned  for his freedom of thoughts and creative experiments in his films. His unique visual styles are still influential. He always thought beyond the boundaries of film making which made him an interesting filmmaker of all time. In 1994 he was given Academy Award in recognition of his place as one the cinema's master visual stylists. His films are always intriguing to watch as well as thought provoking.
"Zabriskie Point" is a story of late 60's counterculture of the United States of America, as seen through the portrayals of an anthropology student and a dropout who is wanted by authorities for allegedly killing a policemen during campus riot. Many critics has been called this film- 'one of the most extraordinary disasters in modern cinematic history', but this film is truly a piece of art work from Antonioni in terms of beautiful visuals and innovative use of music. The film only gained recognition since late 90's. Antonioni's freedom of thoughts and distinct visual styles should be very much appreciated. Cinematography is exceptional in this movie and the soundtrack to this film included music from some of the famous names like Pink Floyd, The Kaleidoscope, and the Rolling Stones. Truly a moving and very beautiful film.

Blow-Up (1966)

"Blow-Up" is the masterpiece film of Antonioni which is timeless. It tells the story of a fashion photographer's accidental involvement with a murder. The film won the Grand Prix at Cannes and many other awards including Best Director. The film was controversial as the first British film to feature full frontal female nudity. The film was scored by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. This film is truly an inspirational and thought provoking.

L'avventura (1960)

"L'avventura" is another great film of Antonioni. It is a story in which the main character suddenly disappears during a boating trip and her lover and her best friend becomes attracted to each other. The film was produced under difficult financial and physical conditions and made Monica Vitti an international star. This film is the first of a trilogy by Antonioni, followed by "La notte" and "L'eclisse". The film is noted for its careful focus on visual composition and character development, along with its unusual narrative structure. The film influenced the visual language of cinema, and has been named by some critics as one of the best ever made. Along with much of Antonioni's other work, "L'avventura" is often cited as an early feminist film with strong and richly characterised female protagonists. As always cinematography is out standing in this film as well and the variety in screen play makes it a worth watching film. Antonioni was without doubt, a creative artist who has given a distinct feel to the world of cinema.

"I always try to follow a certain pattern and work without thinking of the audience. It is not that I dislike my audience; I am not an intellectual, but I believe that films should not be made to entertain the audience, earn money or achieve popularity. I think that films should be made to be as good as possible. And it seems to me that this is the best way to work and to be trustworthy in the world of cinema. When I am shooting a film I never think of how I want to shoot something; I simply shoot it. My technique, which differs from film to film, is wholly instinctive and never based on prior considerations." -Michelangelo Antonioni-