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Story of a Love Affair More at IMDbPro »Cronaca di un amore (original title)

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13 reviews in total

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19 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Film noir excellence, 11 April 2002
Author: (prs10@adam.com.au) from adelaide south australia

A rich older man's belated desire to investigate his beautiful wilful young wife' mysterious past reignites old passions with tragic consequences. For those viewers who are uncertain of Antonioni's capacity to make enjoyably great films, this may be a revelation especially if you have a penchant for post-WW2 film noir with its attendant malaise and melancholia. With suitable B&W photography and accompanying musical score and boasting one of the screen's great beauties, Lucia Bose, in her prime, this film is a masterpiece.

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8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Guilt and Passion, 14 May 2010

Author: Claudio Carvalho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Milano, when the wealthy and jealous entrepreneur Enrico Fontana (Ferdinando Sarmi) discovers hidden photos of his gorgeous twenty-seven year-old wife Paola Molon Fontana (Lucia Bosé), he hires a Neapolitan detective agency to investigate her past. Enrico, who owns twenty companies, married Paola during the war in March 1943 and her past is unknown to him. Detective Morale Carloni (Gino Rossi) is assigned by his boss to head to Ferrara, where Paola studied the technical school after leaving her hometown in Rovigo. During his investigation, the snoopy Carloni discovers that the teenager Paola dated many youngsters and her best friends were Matilda Calvani and Giovanna Carlini, who died seven years ago two days before her wedding with Guido (Massimo Girotti). He gets the address of Guido with Matilda's father but his wife sends a letter to Guido advising that the police was probing him. Guido travels to Milano, where he meets Paola after seven years to show the letter. When they see each other, their old passion reignites; but Carloni is still chasing the truth about the tragic accident with Giovanna.

"Cronaca di un Amore" is the first feature of the director Michelangelo Antonioni and his debut could not be better. This film noir has a magnificent cinematography in black and white and unusual and sophisticated angles of camera. The story is engaging, with the gorgeous nineteen year-old Lucia Bosé, who was Miss Italy 1947, in the role of a twenty-seven year-old fatal woman married with a rich industrial that left an old passion after a tragic accident and revives her love when they reunite seven years later. The romance is quite a comedy of errors, with the feeling of guilt of Paola and Guido affecting their love. Milano in the after war with few cars on the streets is also impressive. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Crimes d'Alma" ("Crimes of Soul")

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
A Nutshell Review: Story of a Love Affair, 23 June 2008

Author: DICK STEEL from Singapore

The very first feature film of Michelangelo Antonioni, Story of a Love Affair as introduced by Lorenzo Codelli, was a film that dealt with the metaphysics, and had very little neo-realist elements which was a departure from what one would come to expect from a filmmaker whose documentaries were neo-realist. Watching it for the first time, I thought it would make a wonderful thriller/crime-mystery involving two lovers, and I suppose in the hands of Hollywood, we would get just that.

But this is not Hollywood we're talking about, so again I get to throw all standard notions I was weaned on out of the window. As I was warned by a friend, I would be in for a rough ride because whatever structure of story-telling I was familiar with was going to be challenged, and strangely enough, I am beginning to find this challenge quite liberating, like the hitting onto a goldmine or an oilfield, and just raking in the sights and sounds from how beautiful a black and white movie could be, in terms of story, and characters.

However, the characters need not be goody-two-shoes, or perfectly looking beings with zilch problems that they couldn't take care of within 2 hours. There are some serious and complex issues that the leads here have to grapple with, and together with an audience, we try and probe, and discover for ourselves just what those are, though naturally we aren't given all the answers on a sliver platter, and have to work hard at it, sometimes even utilizing some precious moments to breathe, digest, and compute, only being able to scratch the surface.

Whatever the story or mystery is, it never really got addressed, not directly anyway. But story aside, I was really intrigued by the lead characters. We have a beautiful married woman Paola Fontana (played by Lucia Bose whom we'll see later in another Antonioni movie, and at one time the reigning Miss Italy) who seem to have the best of what luxuries life can offer, but is stuck in a loveless marriage to a rich man Enrico (Ferdinando Sarmi). We're told that in her youth, she was a head turner, and almost always changes her boyfriends, each being the alpha-male type.

Surprisingly, her lover whom she maintains contact with, Guido (Massimo Girotti) is anything but an alpha-male type. In fact, I would call him a loser in the classic sense of the word. No real job and penniless, he has some magnetic qualities to be be able to mesmerize Paola into trysts in cheap motel rooms. Meeting on the sly, we see how a high society woman have to dodge around from being discovered, and setting up alibis just to meet Guido, and we soon learn how wicked a woman she can be, for coming up with plans for crime to be committed to get things done her way. Which brings us back to the original thought of how she was involved in a more heinous crime / accident, where she could well be the chief manipulator then made to be seen as the victim.

The main crime thread that got weaved into the story, was one involving a certain unseen Ms Giovanna, whose demise was linked to the two lovers. We never really learned what exactly happened, and Antonioni makes us work in order to try and piece clues and accounts together. And the probing of this mystery by a private investigator serves as a catalyst to the rest of the story, where we first see our lovers meet after a long while, but instead of enjoying each other's embrace, seem a lot more concerned with the PI's probe, as if afraid that it'll uncover hidden skeletons in their closets.

Story of a Love Affair becomes an examination into these 2 characters, and interesting enough, to dwell on the problems that they face, in a somewhat lose-lose situation throughout their relationship. The first was when Giovanna served to be in the way of their coming together, being an in-between, and when that's settled, there's the other more pressing issue of whether they can elope successfully, where pragmatism takes over romanticism with Guido knowing for sure that he has no money, and little means to support both of them, especially the lifestyle that Paola currently enjoys.

Definitely deserves a second viewing to try and develop my thoughts on it further! And to enjoy the beautiful score all over again too!

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5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
STORY OF A LOVE AFFAIR (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1950) ***, 31 August 2007

Author: MARIO GAUCI (marrod@melita.com) from Naxxar, Malta

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Antonioni’s belated feature-film debut is a fine romantic melodrama which is actually a variation on a favorite noir theme – that of the lovers planning to dispose of a third party who stands between them. Another genre device adopted here is the investigative framework – with the intended victim himself, the girl’s husband, suddenly deciding to pry into her past.

Paradoxically, the young couple had been involved in the ‘accidental’ death of the man’s ex-girlfriend – and, unaware of the source behind the current investigation, are afraid that the old ‘crime’ has come back to haunt them! Antonioni’s coup, then, is in the way that the couple are so blinded by their passion for each other – they’ve been brought together anew by a letter informing them of the investigation, after having opted to go their separate ways so as not to arouse suspicion over the death of their common acquaintance – that they don’t realize that history is about to repeat itself. Even if they succeed in getting rid of the girl’s husband, they still can’t be together: the final irony is that the husband’s death occurs in spite of themselves in a road accident – but the girl has no way of knowing this and, when the police arrive at her house bearing the tragic news, she panics and flees...

Still, the central relationship isn’t the most solid: the couple even admit to themselves that, hadn’t the letter of warning been sent, their paths would probably never have crossed again; besides, the girl expects the man to tolerate the fact that she married someone else – but, whenever she sees him in the company of an attractive model, she works up a jealous temper! The two stars are very well cast: in a career spanning six decades (with appearances in everything from Art-house to peplums and “Euro-Cult”), Massimo Girotti was one of the most durable of Italian leading men – actually, he had played a similar role to the one here in another important debut in Italian cinema, Luchino Visconti’s OSSESSIONE (1943). Lucia Bose' was not only a top star (particularly during the 1950s) but one of the loveliest female presences ever in Italian cinema – again, her filmography has been quite varied and included performances for such renowned masters of World Cinema as Luis Bunuel, Jean Cocteau, the Taviani brothers, Federico Fellini, Francesco Rosi, etc.

In comparison to his later work, which borders on abstraction, the director’s approach to narrative here is decidedly conventional – as if he was still finding his feet…but, make no mistake about it, this is a startlingly assured (even refined) first film. By the way, at one point, a character in the film makes a reference to Camille – interestingly, Antonioni later made THE LADY WITHOUT CAMELIAS (1953) with the same leading lady! Finally, it’s worth noting that several elements typical of Antonioni’s cinema are already in evidence here: the plot mechanics being merely the excuse for a probing character study, the fated love affair, the fickle nature of relationships, the criticism of the jaded rich, the gloomy locations, the would-be mystery, etc.

Unfortunately, my experience watching STORY OF A LOVE AFFAIR was somewhat dampened by the distractingly ‘processed’ sound-effects pretty much throughout the entire duration of the film – which seem to be the result of an over-zealous digital restoration! Similarly, even if I have no way of knowing whether this is how it was supposed to sound, Giovanni Fusco’s histrionic score came off as deafeningly loud and, consequently, drowned out part of the dialogue!

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6 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
Story of a love affair!, 8 October 2007

Author: andrabem from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Cronaca di un amore" was Antonioni's first full-length film. It's a romantic film noir, full of passion, but very far from the Hollywood saccharine romanticism.

It begins almost as a police film: an investigation is being led about Paola Molon. A detective is walking around, asking questions about her.

Seven years ago, Paola (Lucia Bosé) was in love with Guido (Massimo Girotti). Guido was engaged to Paola's best female friend, but there was already love between Guido and Paola. Still, one day a tragic accident happens. And this accident will tear Guido and Paola apart. And now this investigation will reunite them again. Their love is rekindled.

Paola is now married to a wealthy entrepreneur, lives in a mansion, has servants, a car with chauffeur etc.., but Guido' life has been a constant struggle to make ends meet. (Remember that we are in 1950, some years after the end of the war, and Italy was still far away from her economic boom).....

"Cronaca di un amore" shows already Antonioni as an accomplished master. His eye for small details be it in interior or exterior scenes, his ability in directing actors, his sensitive use of land and cityscape - all these qualities are displayed in full force in the film.

Lucia Bosé is an outstanding actress - she is able to portray intense and contradictory emotions just by her facial expressions. Her acting is subtle and powerful. She's a real diva. Giovanni Fusco's soundtrack is a perfect companion to Antonioni's images.

"Cronaca di un amore" is a very beautiful film.

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3 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Emerging concepts and a focus on dialog, 30 April 2007

Author: Polaris_DiB from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Antonioni's first fictional film and a picture of post-war anxiety, "Story of a Love Affair" is the ironic tale of lovers who meet due to a husband's suspicion, their dramatic history, and the decisions they make to try to stay together. It takes on class issues, post-war malaise, and struggles against fate... to name just a few things. In 98 short minutes, it's filled to the brim with pathos and intrigue, deceit and passion, and fear and doubt.

It's a lot to take on for a "first" film, but Antonioni handles himself well, helped along very well by the actors. This is the first film of Antonioni's I've seen where the male character seems to have as much presence as the female. One can see some of Antonioni's later conceits beginning to develop, such as his eye for architecture and landscape, his dramatic sense of "the gaze", and his opinion that "Eros is sick."

This film also probably has more dialog than any other feature Antonioni has ever made. It is, in fact, so full of dialog that it's somewhat exhausting, though the dialog itself is very well written and poignant. The exhaustive quality of it actually helps the viewer relate to the ennui and entrapment felt by Paola and Guido, but it does weigh the movie down. Still, there are enough moments of silent contemplation and visual narration to release the movie from that tension and give the story a strong flow.

It's a good movie on its own right and a definite note of interest to Antonioni fans. It may not be widely known, and it's never been widely successful, but it has character and contemplation worthy of an art film buff.

--PolarisDiB

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Foreshadows Post-Modernism, 14 February 2012
Author: David Le Sage from Australia

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This early work by Antonioni in many ways prefigures the post-modern movement. It defies genre expectations by blending crime and romance story conventions and presents to the audience vacuous characters portrayed by thespians deliberately chosen for their lack of acting ability. Added to this is a paper-thin plot, filled with meandering scenes. Unfortunately, it is at that point that comparisons with the (purportedly) "great" films of the post-modern movement, such as Blade Runner, end.

There is nothing engaging here and the film is ultimately as shallow as the character of Paola. Whilst her vacuous, empty life is well represented by such scenes as the auction of the gown, there is little insight into why she is the way she is. Also, like many post-modern works, there are no solutions. The character does not grow or develop. Whilst in Blade Runner, the commodified Replicants are finally revealed to be more humane than the humans but here there is no answer to the world's post-War malaise.

The social critique is also muted and often misses the mark. Paolo is disconnected from the world around her and self-absorbed but this limits the film's opportunity to critique the society that produced her.

The deliberately disconnected plot and dialogue only serve to confuse, contributing nothing artistically. The vacuousness of the film mirrors a vacuous West adrift after the war but adds no commentary on that society.

In summary, this film will only be of interest to admirers of Antonioni who want to see him develop his style. Artistically, the film is a failure. As post-modernism grows stale, so too do films like these. What would have been seen as a somewhat ambitious work in 1950 does not even have that sense of freshness in its favour now.

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great 1950 film noir unexpected end, 5 February 2012

Author: filmtherapy from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A wealthy Milan industrialist--Enrique knows nothing about the past of his beautiful young wife--Paola. He hires a detective agency after he discovers some old photos belonging to Paola.

The detective agency sends some one to poke around Paola's past.

The detective discovers she tried to steal her best friend Giovanna's fiancé Guido. They (Paola and Guido) share a secret about the death of Giovanna shortly before her wedding.

Guido finds out about the detective and goes to Milan to warn Paola. The flame between them after 7 years is still strong...they begin to have an affair.

Paola soon enough realizes Enrique is in the way and she prods Guido into murdering him...only chance and fate again play some cards in this dark twisting emotional three way. You never know what is going to happen next.

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The beginning of the cycle of suffering, 25 April 2011

Author: chaos-rampant from Greece

Suffering is an inate response to life, this is one of the inescapable principles of existence. Antonioni saw far in the career that followed, farther than perhaps any director in cinema, but here he begins where it's proper, with life as a cycle of suffering, a seemingly random pattern of recurring time where we're denied what we most desire, happiness eludes us and our dreams and hopes are thwarted and frustrated.

Too young to see a true reality, Antonioni nonetheless sees clearly the reality of illusions. First that the cycle we call life is not blindly, randomly spun, and that we're to be held accountable for our part in the spinning, foremostly that our pursuit of happiness as we like to think is really the deluded pursuit of satisfying desire.

The crucial point that connects these is, rather poignantly, a death, and it happens not once but twice, mirrored identical the second time like a prefiguration of Vertigo. As with Vertigo, this borrows the world of film noir to speak of karmic wheels and the mechanisms that control them, a Double Indemnity scenario where secret lover and wife calculate to get rid of the rich husband.

In a magical touch, the plotted murder happens of its own accord, seemingly out of the whim of an agent of a higher court passing by.

It's not then just a matter of having wished bad to happen, the universe will mysteriously conspire to reward that wish, and what begins as thought will invariably manifest itself in the imminent reality, but rather that having devoted themselves by all means to the pursuit of their desire, a passion born of ego and craving, the obstacle that stood in their way now removed the two protagonists realize how impotent they remain to pursue that desire, how desire is by its very nature an insatiable thing. Their punishment, which is not divine but of their own doing, is the toll exacted on their conscience.

This first appearance of karma as the force that keeps going the cycle of suffering is not perfect by any means, it seems at the same time to imply questions of moral order, whether or not for example wishing for a crime to happen is a crime in itself, spiritual in nature. And all of this is more verbose than need be, something Antonioni would excise in a few years.

We find things in this debut that Antonioni would elaborate upon in wonderful ways, the ineffability of connection, the city as a cold, alienating limbo where souls in transit struggle for meaning, the transparent reality that extends outside the frame to suggest an entire world and flow of life with or without these characters (indeed we find here, abetting this, the beginnings of his amazing sound work, where the city traffic is always audible), but all these are in nascent form here.

What stands out for me is the true perception that begins to form in Antonioni's cinema. Meaning our idea of reality is just that, an idea born of our own habits and various storytellings, which clouds our soul and needs to be challenged, dismantled, removed from our eyes so that we can see life as it is.

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1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Story Of A Love Affair, 15 January 2012

Author: junkielee from Prague

Billed as Antonioni's very first feature-length debut, and started his auteurism career, CRONACA DI UN AMORE revolves around a noir story about a female fatale conspiring a scheme to kill her rich husband with her ex-lover. The film is a mediocre attempt for Antonioni to ooze his budding genius, ending with a patchy denouement.

The narrative goes smoothly but lingers too long with a third-party interference with a wooden detective (Gino Rossi, also the general manager of the film), then this sub-plot submerges into a void most of the subsequent running time, only resurfaces sporadically in-between, also a guilty-ridden murder case turns out just a futile storyline adornment.

The cast, a new-comer Lucia Bosé (whom I saw in Prague several weeks ago in an exhibition opening, I wish I had taken some photos, being an octogenarian, her dyed blue hair is drolly avant-garde) was 19 years old at year, while her rawness to impersonate an experienced temptress was feeble enough to allow the outfits eclipse her character, so as well the late Massimo Girotti, whose dashing wind coat is never outmoded even after 60 years.

Emotionally poignant is a typical kick from this Italian film (sometimes it is even saccharine, but it could be the Italian style which rooted in the blood), at the age of 38, Antonioni had already acquired a great sense of enact an environmental dramatism, while dialogues are over- exploited in this one, which is too tedious and old-fashioned to be appreciated by people around my age, personally I prefer a more subtle approach, like CASABLANCA (1942) or THE BIG SLEEP (1946), yes Humphrey Bogart's distinctive charisma is the killing!

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