La Notte
Encyclopedia
La Notte is a 1961 Italian film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
. It is considered the central film of a trilogy
beginning with L'avventura
and ending with L'Eclisse.
) is a distinguished, successful writer and Lidia (Jeanne Moreau
) is his wife.
They visit their dying friend Tommaso (Bernhard Wicki) in the hospital, where a sick and uninhibited young woman attempts to seduce Giovanni, before attending a party to celebrate Giovanni’s most recent book, which has been well received. Lidia sneaks off, still shaken by Tommaso’s dire condition, and wanders the streets of Milan. She ends up in the neighbourhood where she and Giovanni lived as newlyweds and seems content for a moment.
Giovanni picks Lidia up from the old neighbourhood, they return to their chic apartment and decide to go to a nightclub to break up the monotony. There they watch a mesmerising performance and make small talk. To Giovanni’s surprise, Lidia suggests that they leave the club and attend a swanky party thrown by a millionaire businessman who wants Giovanni to write a book about the history of his company.
At the party, Giovanni socialises with the guests and appears to be in his element, while Lidia walks around in a state of boredom. Eventually, Giovanni romances Valentina (Monica Vitti
) the lively, charming daughter of the host. Briefly, Lidia leaves with a young man who has been observing her all night, after calling the hospital and learning that Tommaso has died. Both couples are aware of what the other is up to and while Giovanni seems slightly displeased with Lidia’s behaviour, Lidia almost seems to encourage Giovanni’s flirtation with Valentina.
When morning comes, Lidia admits to Giovanni that she wants to die because she is no longer in love with him but Giovanni reassures her that they are in love and can make their marriage work.
La Notte ends with Lidia reading out a love letter that Giovanni wrote to her just before they got married, which he does not remember.
award at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival
, and critically acclaimed film director Stanley Kubrick
listed it as one of his top 10 favourite films. The film was also selected as the Italian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 34th Academy Awards
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
. It is considered the central film of a trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
beginning with L'avventura
L'avventura
L'Avventura is a 1960 Italian film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and developed from a story he created. Monica Vitti and Gabriele Ferzetti star. It is noted for its careful pacing, which puts a focus on visual composition and character development, as well as for its unusual narrative structure...
and ending with L'Eclisse.
Plot
La Notte follows a day in the life of a middle-aged, married couple based in Milan. Giovanni (Marcello MastroianniMarcello Mastroianni
Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni, Knight Grand Cross was an Italian film actor. His honours included British Film Academy Awards, Best Actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival and two Golden Globe Awards.- Personal life :...
) is a distinguished, successful writer and Lidia (Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
) is his wife.
They visit their dying friend Tommaso (Bernhard Wicki) in the hospital, where a sick and uninhibited young woman attempts to seduce Giovanni, before attending a party to celebrate Giovanni’s most recent book, which has been well received. Lidia sneaks off, still shaken by Tommaso’s dire condition, and wanders the streets of Milan. She ends up in the neighbourhood where she and Giovanni lived as newlyweds and seems content for a moment.
Giovanni picks Lidia up from the old neighbourhood, they return to their chic apartment and decide to go to a nightclub to break up the monotony. There they watch a mesmerising performance and make small talk. To Giovanni’s surprise, Lidia suggests that they leave the club and attend a swanky party thrown by a millionaire businessman who wants Giovanni to write a book about the history of his company.
At the party, Giovanni socialises with the guests and appears to be in his element, while Lidia walks around in a state of boredom. Eventually, Giovanni romances Valentina (Monica Vitti
Monica Vitti
Monica Vitti is an Italian actress best known for her starring roles in films directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, her lover at that time, during the early 1960s...
) the lively, charming daughter of the host. Briefly, Lidia leaves with a young man who has been observing her all night, after calling the hospital and learning that Tommaso has died. Both couples are aware of what the other is up to and while Giovanni seems slightly displeased with Lidia’s behaviour, Lidia almost seems to encourage Giovanni’s flirtation with Valentina.
When morning comes, Lidia admits to Giovanni that she wants to die because she is no longer in love with him but Giovanni reassures her that they are in love and can make their marriage work.
La Notte ends with Lidia reading out a love letter that Giovanni wrote to her just before they got married, which he does not remember.
Cast
- Marcello MastroianniMarcello MastroianniMarcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni, Knight Grand Cross was an Italian film actor. His honours included British Film Academy Awards, Best Actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival and two Golden Globe Awards.- Personal life :...
as Giovanni - Jeanne MoreauJeanne MoreauJeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
as Lidia - Monica VittiMonica VittiMonica Vitti is an Italian actress best known for her starring roles in films directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, her lover at that time, during the early 1960s...
as Valentina - Bernhard Wicki as Tommaso
- Maria Pia Luzi as unnamed patient
- Rosy Mazzacurati as Rosy
Reception
The film won the Golden BearGolden Bear
According to legend, the Golden Bear was a large golden Ursus arctos. Members of the Ursus arctos species can reach masses of . The Grizzly Bear and the Kodiak Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear....
award at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival
11th Berlin International Film Festival
The 11th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 23 to July 4, 1961.-Jury:* James Quinn * France Roche* Marc Turfkruyer* Satyajit Ray* Gian Luigi Rondi* Hirosugu Ozaki* Nicholas Ray* Falk Harnack* Hans Schaarwächter...
, and critically acclaimed film director Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
listed it as one of his top 10 favourite films. The film was also selected as the Italian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 34th Academy Awards
34th Academy Awards
The 34th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1961, were held on April 9, 1962 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. They were hosted by Bob Hope; this was the seventh time Hope hosted the Oscars...
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Cultural References
- At the very end of the credits of the Monty PythonMonty PythonMonty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
movie Life of Brian it says 'If you have enjoyed this film, why not go and see "La notte"?'. - Don DraperDon DraperDonald "Don" Draper is a fictional character and the protagonist of AMC's television series Mad Men. He is portrayed by 2008 Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm. Until the third season finale, Draper was Creative Director of Manhattan advertising firm Sterling Cooper...
mentions La notte in a rare conversation about things he actually likes in the second season of Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
.
See also
- List of submissions to the 34th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Italian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film