Those who 'get it' and those who don't. Those who get it, love it. Those who don't, hate it. That is why you see either great reviews or horrible reviews. There is no middle ground for this film
I've been in both camps. My first time watching it I did not get it and as a result I didn't like it.
Saw it again about 10 years later and 'I got it' and I realized how incredibly brilliant it is.
Despite what other reviewers say, this film is not about a photographer who may have stumbled across a murder victim. Yes, that happens, but that's not what the film is about. If you think that's what this film is about, you won't get it.
This film is about "reality" and how it's perceived depending on your view of it. This filmed is summed up great by Antonioni's own quote "Reality is unattainable as it is submerged by layers of images which are only versions of reality." An 'image' or photo only sees 'reality' from one point in space and time. An image from another point in space and/or time may show that the reality the first image shows, is quite different when viewed from that different perspective. Both images capture what is really there, but they tell different stories. And as we try to examine them closer (blow them up) they become even more ambiguous. This is the theme that runs through the movie.
The best summation of this reality is determined by perspective is the scene with the Yardbirds when Jeff Beck trashes his guitar. The zombie-like crowd is suddenly thrown into a frenzy when he tosses the broken guitar into the crowd and everyone clamors to get it - with our protaganist David Hemmings getting it as he is chased out the club by the crowd. From the perspective of that crowd in the club, that broken guitar was valuable and everyone wanted it. But as soon as Hemmings is outside on the sidewalk it's just a 'broken guitar' and he discards it only to have someone else pick it up and also discard it. The two perspectives - inside and outside the club - gave that guitar two totally different 'realities'.
And one of the most pretentious quotes (or perceived as such) is actually one of the most critical, taking on new meaning when put in the context of the real meaning behind the film. Hemmings to girl: "I thought you were in Paris?", girl: "I am in Paris".
This film looks shallow, but runs deep.
I've been in both camps. My first time watching it I did not get it and as a result I didn't like it.
Saw it again about 10 years later and 'I got it' and I realized how incredibly brilliant it is.
Despite what other reviewers say, this film is not about a photographer who may have stumbled across a murder victim. Yes, that happens, but that's not what the film is about. If you think that's what this film is about, you won't get it.
This film is about "reality" and how it's perceived depending on your view of it. This filmed is summed up great by Antonioni's own quote "Reality is unattainable as it is submerged by layers of images which are only versions of reality." An 'image' or photo only sees 'reality' from one point in space and time. An image from another point in space and/or time may show that the reality the first image shows, is quite different when viewed from that different perspective. Both images capture what is really there, but they tell different stories. And as we try to examine them closer (blow them up) they become even more ambiguous. This is the theme that runs through the movie.
The best summation of this reality is determined by perspective is the scene with the Yardbirds when Jeff Beck trashes his guitar. The zombie-like crowd is suddenly thrown into a frenzy when he tosses the broken guitar into the crowd and everyone clamors to get it - with our protaganist David Hemmings getting it as he is chased out the club by the crowd. From the perspective of that crowd in the club, that broken guitar was valuable and everyone wanted it. But as soon as Hemmings is outside on the sidewalk it's just a 'broken guitar' and he discards it only to have someone else pick it up and also discard it. The two perspectives - inside and outside the club - gave that guitar two totally different 'realities'.
And one of the most pretentious quotes (or perceived as such) is actually one of the most critical, taking on new meaning when put in the context of the real meaning behind the film. Hemmings to girl: "I thought you were in Paris?", girl: "I am in Paris".
This film looks shallow, but runs deep.