ABBONDANZA!

[Washington, D.C.] Michelangelo Antonioni (1912–2007), the consummate modernist who converted the language of cinema into contemporary forms, was hailed on his death last July as “the most modern and controversial artist of his generation.” Antonioni began as a critic, collaborated on scripts with the neo-realists, and directed his first feature, Cronica di un amore, in 1950. It was in the mid-1950s that he realized his own unique expression with Il grido. Subsequently, the world learned of that expression with the release of the much maligned L’avventura in 1960, arguably the most debated film of all time and today regarded as one of the most influential. This eight-part retrospective of Antonioni’s most important Italian films (he began to work outside Italy after releasing Deserto rosso in 1964) is presented through the assistance of Luca Verdone; Sergio Toffetti; Laura Argento; Laura Boido; RAI International; Cineteca Nazionale, Rome; and the Italian Cultural Institute, Washington. Prints are from the British Film Institute and Cineteca Nazionale.

Where:
National Gallery of Art, 401 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 (202) 737-4215

When:
July 19, 25, 27 & August 2, 10, 16, 17, 24

Schedule:
Luca Verodone in Person - July 19 at 2:00PM
East Building Concourse, Large Auditorium

Luca Verdone’s beautiful and intimate study of Antonioni was made for Italian television in the 1980s. Extended interviews, historical footage of the director with many of his favorite actors, and clips from his work comprise the portrait. (Luca Verdone, 2005, digital beta, 60 minutes)

I vinti (The Vanquished)
July 19 at 4:30PM
East Building Concourse, Large Auditorium

Three morality tales Antonioni-style: shy Jean-Pierre Mocky flashes money to get accepted but finds more than he bargained for; eccentric poet Peter Reynolds stops at nothing to get his name in the news; while cigarette smuggler Franco Interlenghi meets with a different sort of trouble. Filmed in three countries, all of which imposed censorship hurdles, I vinti bears the Antonioni trademark—the meanings are in the details. (1952, 35 mm, Italian with subtitles, 110 minutes)