Bart and Jenna try their best to not fall back on being overly reverential about films they love but when it comes to Michelangelo Antonioni, it’s hard to be anything but. As a director, Antonioni was made in the 1960s, starting with his rule-breaking masterpiece L’Avventura and ending with his critically panned Zabriskie Point.

In this episode, Bart and Jenna really get into the nitty-gritty of these complex, heartbreaking and sometimes mystifying films. They also try to dispel some widely repeated narratives about how to watch and read Antonioni’s cinematic language. Basically, they desperately want you to love these movies as much as they do. So andiamo, give it a listen.

The following films are discussed:

• L’Avventura (1960)
The Adventure
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring Monica Vitti, Gabriele Ferzetti, Lea Massari

• La Notte (1961)
The Night
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring Jeanne Moreau, Marcello Mastroianni, Monica Vitti

• L’Eclisse (1962)
Eclipse
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring Monica Vitti, Alain Delon

• Red Desert (1964)
Il deserto rosso
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring Monica Vitti, Richard Harris, Carlo Chionetti

• Blow-Up (1966)
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles

• Zabriskie Point (1969*)
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
Starring Mark Frechette, Daria Halprin, Rod Taylor