Antonioni

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Celebrated critic William Arrowsmith held Michelangelo Antonioni, the renowned Italian director, in high regard, declaring him one of the greatest living artists. In a 1977 lecture at New York's Museum of Modern Art, he asserted that Antonioni's innovative manipulation of images places him alongside literary and poetic giants like Joyce, Valéry, and Eliot. This book, edited by Ted Perry, compiles eight remarkable essays, most previously unpublished, where Arrowsmith examines Antonioni's oeuvre through a film-by-film analysis, covering works from 1956's Il grido to 1975's The Passenger. Originally presented as lectures, these essays illuminate the significance of Antonioni's films and their impact on audiences. Arrowsmith, a distinguished literary critic, explores both the intellectual roots and the technical aspects of Antonioni's vision, demonstrating how camera movement and spatial composition enhance the storytelling. For instance, in La notte, he analyzes how the framing of a character against a blank wall symbolizes her emotional emptiness. Perry's introduction emphasizes the connection between art, life, and meaning in Arrowsmith's critique. With an appendix summarizing the films and translating key dialogues, this collection celebrates the insights of a distinguished critic and the innovative work of a cinematic master, making it essential reading for cinema lovers and admirers of Arrowsmith.