In Milan, after visiting dear friend Tommaso Garani (Bernhard Wicki) that is terminal in a hospital, the writer Giovanni Pontano (Marcello Mastroianni) goes to a party for the release of his last book, and his wife Lydia Pontano (Jeanne Moreau) visits the place where she lived many years ago. In the night, they go to a night-club, and later to a party in the mansion of the tycoon Mr. Gherardini (Vincenzo Corbella). Along the night, Giovanni flirts with Valentina Gherardini (Monica Vitti), the daughter of the host, and then he receives a proposal to work for him in the area of communication and write the history of his company. Meanwhile, Lydia flirts with the playboy Roberto (Giorgio Negro). In the morning, Lydia tells Giovanni that Tommaso died and she does not love him anymore.
"La Notte" is the story of the end of a marriage though a cold and depressing narrative. Using a magnificent black and white cinematography, and the awesome performances of Jeanne Moreau, Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti, Antonioni discloses the bored relationship of Giovanni and Lydia giving hints that their marriage is completely wasted, like for example when Lydia asks for the sponge in the bathtub and Giovanni mechanically gives it to her without any excitement; or when she dresses a new and elegant dress and Giovanni does not compliment her, like any woman would like to listen to. When Lydia tells him that she does not love him anymore and he insists that he still loves her, she reads the poem that he had wrote for her in the past and he does not recall his authorship. This film is low paced, sad and indicated for specific audiences only. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Noite" ("The Night")
"La Notte" is the story of the end of a marriage though a cold and depressing narrative. Using a magnificent black and white cinematography, and the awesome performances of Jeanne Moreau, Marcello Mastroianni and Monica Vitti, Antonioni discloses the bored relationship of Giovanni and Lydia giving hints that their marriage is completely wasted, like for example when Lydia asks for the sponge in the bathtub and Giovanni mechanically gives it to her without any excitement; or when she dresses a new and elegant dress and Giovanni does not compliment her, like any woman would like to listen to. When Lydia tells him that she does not love him anymore and he insists that he still loves her, she reads the poem that he had wrote for her in the past and he does not recall his authorship. This film is low paced, sad and indicated for specific audiences only. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Noite" ("The Night")