Rewatching the trilogy because I was able to see this one at the American Cinematheque (Egyptian Theatre) on a DCP of the nicely restored version. Of course, it was wonderful seeing on the big screen.

I still think L'Avventura is my fave but revisiting L’Eclisse next week.

That Antonioni is consistently labelled 'boring' is a gross misconduct. This is among the most primally exciting films I've ever seen, and Vitti is terrifying.

"I'd like to read a novel about a woman who loves a man but the man doesn't love her. But he does admire her intelligence, her temperament. They start living together and then...but how could a story like that end?"

“I no longer have inspirations, only memories.”

Reflections on regrets. Easily one of the best films shot on Black and White. How does Antonioni do it?

یادتم بیاور که دوستت داشتم
یادم بیاور که دوست داشتنت را میدانستم
یادم بیاور که دست‌هات را میفهمیدم
و یادم بیاور که این نبوده‌ام

Most definitely will give it another watch

In some ways the weakest in the trilogy. But features some wrenching dialogue and camerawork. The party scene is delectably loopy and weird, but with an undercurrent of sadness...like being left out. It's a beautiful, harrowing film. I love the end scene.

The impenetrable chill of loneliness. The despair of not being able to communicate with the person standing next to you. These are Antonioni's obsessions, and they are on full display in crisp, cool black-and-white.

Continuing with my backwards in time exploration of Antonioni, La Notte was as expected, glorious black & white looks and camera framing, with rich Italians' ennui embedded in every scene. Somehow I did not get into it emotionally to the depth of his other ones i saw recently. The film does jump up in power and intrigue with the appearance of Monica Vitti. What a godsend she is.

Unlike other reviewers, I am not sure Marcello was the right choice for this, his association with Fellini is so strong that it blurs the anonymity lines too much. See it for the gorgeous look and composition, great music, architecture too, and with some great mood throughout.

Trilogy of Decadence 2/3

Directed and written by Michelangelo Antonioni

"I no longer have inspirations, only recollections"

Michelangelo Antonioni is one of the few filmmakers who makes me wonder, is that stuff even possible and how does Antonioni do it? His films are magical and pure cinema. La Notte is one of the best and most beautiful film ever shot on Black and White. Its miraculously gorgeous.

Giovanni Pontano is a famous novelist who decides to attend a promotion party for his new book with his wife. There he falls in love with Valentina Gherardini, daughter of a billionaire. Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Monreau and Monica Vitti. The characters are very well-written and superbly acted. The visuals are so brilliant that it immerses you into the troubled and distant marriage of Giovanni and Lidia. Michelangelo created a excellent melancholic atmosphere combined with fantastic writing and marvellous direction.

My rating: 4.5/5

I wanna talk about Monica Vitti’s spaghetti strap

Part of The Filmstruck Sprint

As resolute tonally and as striking visually as L'Avventura, but it felt somewhat underdeveloped from a premise standpoint, as though it didn't spend nearly enough time collaborating to develop a juxtaposition between the before and after states of Giovanni and Lidia's relationship as it does loosely implying it through long, meandering scenes of the two characters wandering separately through fields of symbolism. It grants it enough time for the suggestion of the juxtaposition to exist, and the performances and composition enforce this, but perhaps not with enough focus for me to feel compelled by it as a central narrative conceit as I could have been.

EDIT: The more I think about this one, the more I appreciate it. It might be safe to say that my first impression wasn't the right one.

(High) 7 / 10 - Good