Search - L' Avventura [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1960 DVD Release: 06/05/2001 Format: DVD - Black and White,Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: Italian Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Number of Discs: 2 Run Time: 2 hrs 23 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 28 Genres: Drama, Adventure Drama, Psychological Drama See Also: L' Avventura

This ground-breaking film won a Special Jury Prize at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival and established its director, Michelangelo Antonioni, as a major international talent. The plot concerns a yachting trip by a small group of jaded socialites, including Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti), an aging architect who sold out for easy money long ago, his mistress Anna (Lea Massari), and her friend Claudia (Monica Vitti), who doesn't fit in with the wealthy jet-setters' dissolute ethics. When Anna disappears during a tour of a volcanic island, Claudia initially blames Sandro's emotionally barren behavior toward her. As they search the island, however, Claudia and Sandro grow closer and -- when it is apparent that Anna is gone forever -- become lovers. Unfortunately, Sandro cannot find anything decent inside himself and betrays Claudia with a local prostitute. Caught in the act, Sandro has a heartrending breakdown on a desolate beach, but Claudia silently forgives him. L'avventura caught many audiences who were expecting a mystery by surprise; as in La notte (1961), The Eclipse (1962), and Red Desert (1964), Antonioni is interested less in developing a logical story than in exploring states of feeling and breakdowns in human connection. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Gabriele Ferzetti - Sandro
Monica Vitti - Claudia
Lea Massari - Anna
Dominique Blanchar - Giulia
Renzo Ricci - Anna's Father

The Criterion Collection's DVD of the film is excellent in all ways. Separated onto two discs, the film has been given a major uplift and some rather nice extras as well. Disc one includes the film, which has been beautifully and painstakingly restored to its luminous glory, and also a fascinating and worthwhile audio commentary track with film historian Gene Youngblood. The picture is offered in its original theatrical ratio of 1.77:1 and is enhanced for widescreen TVs. The digital transfer was taken from a 35 mm composite fine-grain master positive. Further restoration was bestowed upon the film by cleaning the film of dirt, scratches, and other artifacts that had, over the years, taken a toll on it. The time-consuming process was well worth it -- the film has really never looked as striking on home video as it does on this disc. The picture is always balanced and sharp, with the blacks always given the density they deserve and the whites as clean and luminous as they should be. The high contrast is superb throughout and never becomes too glaring or bright. The Italian language mono sound, which has also been given an uplift, is very good and seems balanced as well. The film is subtitled in English and they are always clear and easy to read. As stated earlier, =L'Avventura has been given a commentary track and it is more than any fan of this film could possibly want. Youngblood does not hide his enthusiasm for the film or for Antonioni, and frankly his track is the better for it. Precariously balanced between a scholarly analysis of the film and an open love letter to it, Youngblood offers up ample background anecdotes pertaining to the sometimes difficult on-location filming, as well as a scene-by-scene examination of some of the film's more groundbreaking storytelling techniques and narrative preoccupations. He also sheds plenty of light upon Antonioni himself and the film's star, Monica Vitti. Disc two contains a fabulous 58-minute documentary called "Antonioni: Documents and Testimonials," which was originally made for French Canadian television back in the 1960s. The short film is notable for its numerous interviews with some of the actors and artists the director has worked with, as well as some of his friends and family. The film contains some great footage of the director at work and offers up the most candid view of him and his films up to that point. Disc two also contains actor Jack Nicholson reading two short essays that the director wrote, as well as offering up some telling anecdotes about working with Antonioni on the film, Professione: Reporter from 1975. Nicholson's reminiscence of his friendship with the director is engaging and filled with an obvious warmth. The disc also contains the original theatrical trailer and a restoration demonstration. Reprints of the director's Cannes statement and the critic's "open letter" have been included, as well as an essay by author Geoffrey Nowell-Smith. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide