La notte (1961)

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Michelangelo Antonioni (story) &
Ennio Flaiano (story) ...

Release Date:

19 February 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Milan, after visiting dear friend Tommaso Garani that is terminal in a hospital, the writer Giovanni...

Plot Keywords:

Party | Hospital | Writer | Book Signing | Rainstorm

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Marcello Mastroianni	...	Giovanni Pontano
Jeanne Moreau	...	Lidia
Monica Vitti	...	Valentina Gherardini
Bernhard Wicki	...	Tommaso Garani
Rosy Mazzacurati	...	Rosy
Maria Pia Luzi	...	Patient
Guido A. Marsan	...	Fanti (as Guido Ajmone Marsan)
Vittorio Bertolini
Vincenzo Corbella	...	Mr. Gherardini
Ugo Fortunati	...	Cesarino
Gitt Magrini	...	Mrs. Gherardini
Giorgio Negro	...	Roberto
Roberta Speroni	...	Beatrice (as Roberta Speroni Fortunati)
Odile Jean

Also Known As:

Dare e avere (Italy) (working title)
La nuit (France)
The Night (UK)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Italy:VM14 | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:17 (censored version) | Sweden:15 | UK:X (cut)

Filming Locations:

Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

Nepi Film

Trivia:

Second part of the unofficial "Incomunicabiliy Trilogy" also including L'avventura (1960) and L'eclisse (1962).

Quotes:

Lidia: "When I awake this morning, you were still asleep. As I awoke I heard you gentle breathing. I saw you closed eyes beneath wisps of stray hair and I was deeply moved. I wanted to cry out, to wake you, but you slept so deeply, so soundly. " "In the half light you skin gloved with life so warm and sweet. I wanted to kiss it, but I was afraid to wake you. I was afraid of you awake in my arms again. Instead, I wanted to something no one could take from me, mine alone...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Antonioni - Cinema Artiste

I just finished viewing this on DVD and I kept thinking - can anyone imagine someone making a picture like this these days?

Of course, this film was a product of a time and a place and a sensibility that is now long gone. But be that as it may, this is an excellent film about a married couple who have fallen out of love. OK, no one will be viewing this looking for escapist entertainment. However if you are looking for what the Cinema can do without a blue-screen to enlighten, engross and even (dare I say it) entertain while at the same time shedding some light on human relationships - this film comes highly recommended. Excellent cast too!

With his refinement and cinematic artistry, Antonioni was definitely hitting on all cylinders during the early 60's doing stories that would probably raise a loud 'HUH?' at a Hollywood pitch session - then or now.

While I don't rate this at quite the same level as L'Aventura, this is up there with the best of his films (IMHO).