Red Desert
- lennyofficial2d agoOf all the Antonioni films I have seen, this is by far the most unsettling and somber. The story centers on Giuliana—played, once again, magnificently by Monica Vitti—a woman who appears unhinged but is actually the victim of a car accident; while doctors believe she has recovered, the reality is quite different. She remains withdrawn, fearful, and morbidly fixated, worrying those around her, yet no one possesses the patience to truly understand her. Even Corrado—a friend of her husband who appears to be the most empathetic and emotionally intelligent character—fails in this endeavor. This contrast between Giuliana and the outside world can be described through two metaphors: she is like a wild animal displaced from its natural habitat by human industrial encroachment, or—drawing on the fairy tale she tells her son—she is the young girl on an isolated, idyllic beach, while the approaching boat represents the people trying to understand her; they turn back abruptly, leaving her bewildered. Despite being haunted by these inner demons, Giuliana constantly seeks understanding and help. The film contains little in the way of romance or simple emotion; instead, it explores the alienation of individuals—often the most sensitive and human among us—who find themselves at the mercy of a world that neither understands nor has the time to understand them. In 1964, when the film was released, that world already seemed austere and blind; today, however—alas, in the age of mass digitization—we have far surpassed that dystopian reality, making Giuliana’s cry for help even more urgent.
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Red Desert was released on October 29, 1964.
Red Desert was directed by Michelangelo Antonioni.
Red Desert has a runtime of 1h 57m.
Red Desert was produced by Tonino Cervi.
In a bleak rundown industrial area, young Giuliana tries to cope with life. She's married to Ugo, the manager of a local plant, but is having an affair with one of his co-workers, Corrado Zeller, who is visiting. Giuliana is unstable, not quite knowing anymore whether her role is wife, mother, or just another person in the world. Her escape from life is short-lived: Zeller is just using her to satisfy his own needs and desires.
The key characters in Red Desert are Giuliana (Monica Vitti), Corrado Zeller (Richard Harris), Ugo (Carlo Chionetti).
Red Desert is rated Not Rated.
Red Desert is a Drama film.
Red Desert has an audience rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Red Desert has made $19,333 at the box office.