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Together with Fellini, Bergman and Kurosawa, Michelangelo Antonioni is credited with defining the modern art film. And yet Antonioni's cinema is also recognized today for defying any easy categorization, with his films ultimately seeming to belong to their own distinctive genre. Indeed, the difficulty of precisely describing their category is itself the very quintessence of Antonioni's films. Among the most-cited contributions of Antonioni's cinema are their striking descriptions of that unique strain of post-boom ennui everywhere apparent in the transformed life and leisure habits of the Italian middle and upper classes. Detecting profound technological, political and psychological shifts at work in post-WWII Italy, Antonioni set out to explore the ambiguities of a suddenly alienated and dislocated Italy, not simply through his oblique style of narrative and characters, nor through any overt political messaging, but instead by tearing asunder the traditional boundaries of cinematic narrative in order to explore an ever shifting internal landscape expressed through architecture, urban space and the sculptural, shaping presence of objects, shapes and emotions invented by camera movement and depth of focus.

Antonioni deftly manipulates the quieter, indirect edges of cinematic structure, often so discretely that his existential puzzles are felt before they can be intellectualized. The negative space is as prominent as the positive, silence as loud as noise, absence as palpable as presence, and passivity as driving a force as direct action. Transgressing unspoken cinematic laws, Antonioni frequently focuses on female protagonists while refusing to sentimentalize or morally judge his characters and placing them on equal footing with the other elements within his total dynamic system, like sounds or set pieces. And he violates spoken rules with unconventional cutting techniques, fractured spatial and temporal continuity, and a camera that insistently lingers in melancholy pauses, long after the actors depart, as if drifting just behind an equally distracted, dissipating narrative. Leaving questions unanswered and plot points irresolute, dispensing with exposition, suspense, sentimentality and other cinematic security blankets, Antonioni releases the viewer into a gorgeous, densely layered fog to contemplate and wrestle with his characters' imprecise quandaries and endless possibilities. Culminating in tour de force endings that often reframe the narrative in a daring, parting act of deconstruction, Antonioni's rigorously formal, yet open compositions allow his great, unwieldy questions to spill over into the world outside the cinema and outside of time.

Born into a middle-class family in the northern Italian town of Ferrara, Antonioni studied economics at the University of Bologna where he also co-founded the university's theatrical troupe. While dedicating himself to painting, writing film reviews, working in financial positions and in different capacities on film productions, Antonioni suffered a few false starts before expressing his unique directorial vision and voice in his first realized short film, Gente del Po, a moving portrait of fisherman in the misty Po Valley where he was raised. Uncomfortable with the neo-realist thrust of Italian cinema, Antonioni directed a series of eccentric and oblique documentary shorts that, in retrospect, reveal his desire to investigate the psyche's mysterious interiors. In his first fictional feature, Story of a Love Affair, Antonioni immediately subtly challenged traditional plot and audience expectation in ways that anticipate the formal and emotional expressionist dynamic that would fully flower within the groundbreaking L'Avventura (1960).

Reversing its raucous 1960 premiere to an infuriated Cannes audience, L'Avventura was rapturously lauded by fellow artists and filmmakers and awarded a special Jury Prize "for its remarkable contribution toward the search for a new cinematic language." It also presented the controlled ambivalence of Monica Vitti, who would become his partner, muse and psychological constant throughout his famed trilogy of L'Avventura, La Notte (1961) and L'Eclisse (1962) in addition to the exquisite Red Desert (1964), a film that marked another significant shift toward expressive color, male leads and working with soft focus and faster cuts. After the phenomenal commercial success of the MGM-produced Blow-Up (1966), Antonioni was devastated by the anti-climactic box office disaster of Zabriskie Point (1970) and returned to documentary. Invited to make Chung Kuo China by the Chinese government, Antonioni delivered a mesmerizing yet unsentimental four-hour tour of China which was vehemently rejected by its solicitors. A few years later, Antonioni returned to fictional form in his last masterpiece, The Passenger (1975), an enigmatic fable of vaporous identity that offers a bold companion piece to L'Avventura. Aside from the thematically retrospective Identification of a Woman (1982) and a period film made for television, The Mystery of Oberwald (1980) in which he conducted unusual experiments with color and video, Antonioni closed out his career with mostly short films, many of which were made after he suffered a stroke in 1985.

Tremendously influential yet largely taken for granted, Antonioni made difficult, abstract cinema mainstream. Embracing an anarchic geometry, Antonioni turned the architecture of narrative filmmaking inside-out in the most eloquent way possible, with many of his iconic scenes eternally preserved in the depths of the cinema's psyche. Observing modern maladies without judgment - sexism, dissolution of family and tradition, ecological/technological quandaries and the eternal questions of our place in the cosmos - Antonioni's prescience continues to resonate deeply as we find our way in the quickly moving fog.

Arnoldo Foà was born on 24 January 1916 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was an actor, known for The Trial (1962), War Gods of Babylon (1962) and The Tartars (1961). He was married to Anna Procaccini, Patrizia Uva and Ludovica Volpe. He died on 11 January 2014 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

In 1958, at the age of just seventeen, the beautiful Jose' Greci was chosen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to play the role of the Virgin Mary in "Ben-Hur" which was to be filmed at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, thus assuring her of a great deal of publicity in newsreels and magazines of the day. Although international stardom surprisingly eluded her, she remained busy throughout the 1960s starring in low-budget Italian sword n' sandal epics, spy and crime thrillers and Television work. (See filmography below). Also used the pseudonym Carolyn Davys.

Florestano Vancini was born on 24 August 1926 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was a director and writer, known for Seasons of Our Love (1966), It Happened in '43 (1960) and The Assassination of Matteotti (1973). He was married to Liliana Ferrari. He died on 18 September 2008 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Giuseppe Gandini was born on 5 March 1972 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is an actor and director, known for Eat Pray Love (2010), Mito della realtà (1994) and All the Money in the World (2017).

Silvana Bosi was born on 23 July 1934 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She was an actress, known for The American (2010), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Letters to Juliet (2010). She died on 10 August 2020 in Este, Veneto, Italy.

Elisabetta Sgarbi was born on 9 July 1956 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She is a director and writer, known for Notte senza fine (2004), Colpa di comunismo (2015) and Love Stories (2013).

Adriana Benetti was born on 5 December 1919 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She was an actress, known for C'è sempre un ma! (1943), The Bigamist (1942) and Sins of Pompeii (1950). She died on 24 February 2016 in Rome, Italy.

Miriam Previati was born on 12 September 1986 in Ferrara, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She is an actress and director, known for Innocenti evasioni (2019), The Traitor (2019) and One Step from Heaven (2011).

Fabio Pittorru was born on 24 August 1928 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was a writer and director, known for Amore mio spogliati... che poi ti spiego! (1975), The Weekend Murders (1970) and Blow Hot, Blow Cold (1969). He died on 4 September 1995 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Vittorio Sgarbi was born on 8 May 1952 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is a writer and actor, known for Il pianto della statua (2007), Deserto rosa. Luigi Ghirri (2009) and L'ultima salita - La Via Crucis di Bernardino Simoni a Cervero (2009).

Ivan Bacchi was born on 19 May 1975 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is an actor, known for One More Night (2012), Facing Windows (2003) and The Ignorant Fairies (2001).

Nella C. Gambini was born in Ferrara in 1953, to cuban mother and roman father. Her first contact with the world art occurs at the age of ten, when she starts as singer in a cabaret-club of her hometown. Follow the theatrical debut, as actress, at the side of very important and oldest Emma Gramatica (sister of as much Anna and Irma), in a Niccodemi's drama. She acts with the high-level presence of Arnoldo Foà and Paola Borboni. Settled in Rome since 21th April 1966, she joins in the roman comic acting company leaded by the roman poet and actor Checco Durante. The experience in this contest, highly formative and satisfying, with the participation at several performances, both in "Rossini's Theatre" and "Villa Aldobrandini" in Rome, last for ten years. On December 28, 1975 she accompanies Checco Durante for the last time on stage, performing in "The Discovery of America" by Alberto Retti. With the Durante's death, which took place in Rome on 5 January, 1976 she breaks away from the company. Also in 1966, she begins her job in the cinema, in Cinecittà, where her father Biagio works as a professional acrobat and master of arms. Occur the first experiences as a stunt-woman and stunt double for many actresses and actors. She's skillfully executed in almost all fields, falls to leaps, stunt driver to truck, up to the master of arms and fencing. In 1977, when her father comes to retirement age, she abandoned the stunt-girl's activity. Active in doubles, as in dubbing track, in the film's sound recording, which at time were all strictly played in the dubbing room, lends voice to several teenagers and inexperienced actresses, to children, to simple supporting roles or voice-overs [some of actresses dubbed: Simonetta Stefanelli, Jenny Tamburi, Fiorella Mannoia, Anna Melato (in Film d'amore e d'anarchia); among the children: Renato Cestiè and Duilio Cruciani (in 1870, with Anna Magnani and Marcello Mastroianni)]. She takes on the films as actress, but always in supporting roles that do not allow to stand out as she deserves. The theater she allows instead important writings, compare with a wide variety of roles and genres, under the direction of renowned directors and prominent figures, including Aldo Trionfo, Renzo Giovampietro, Giancarlo Sbragia, Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. In the 80s she's assistant to Mrs. Monica Vitti, drama's professor at the Dramatic's Art National Academy "Silvio D'Amico" in Rome. Remains active as actress in film and television until 2000. In the three following years, provides as acting coach on the set of series and miniseries shoot in Cinecittà. In 2003, reached the retirement age, she lefts Cinecittà to devote exclusively to the theater.

Antonio Battistella was born on 26 June 1912 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was an actor, known for Ottocento (1959), Vita di Michelangelo (1964) and Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (1964). He was married to Anna Maria Preti. He died on 6 April 1980 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

Gianni Fantoni was born on 20 June 1967 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is an actor, known for Ma quando arrivano le ragazze? (2005), O la va, o la spacca (2004) and Gli amici del bar Margherita (2009).

Girolamo Frescobaldi was born on 12 September 1583 in Ferrara, Duchy of Ferrara [now Emilia-Romagna, Italy]. He was a composer, known for Tale of Tales (2015), Sodrásban (1964) and Le pont des Arts (2004). He died on 1 March 1643 in Rome, Papal State [now Lazio, Italy].

Dario Franceschini was born on 19 October 1958 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Temistocle Solera was born on 25 December 1815 in Ferrara, Papal State [now Emilia-Romagna, Italy]. Temistocle was a writer, known for Crying Freeman (1995), Joan of Arc, Opera in Four Acts (2015) and Human Capital (2013). Temistocle was married to Teresa Rosmina. Temistocle died on 21 April 1878 in Milan, Italy.

Daria Bignardi was born on 14 February 1961 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She is a writer and actress, known for Natale a casa Deejay - A Christmas Carol (2004), A Boyfriend for my Wife (2014) and Corto circuito (1996).

Piergiorgio Farina was born on 12 October 1938 in Goro, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was a composer and actor, known for Casa dell'amore... la polizia interviene (1978), $10,000 Blood Money (1967) and Il... Belpaese (1977). He died on 28 July 2008 in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

Angelo Mercuriali was born on 17 October 1909 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was an actor, known for The Immigrant (2013), La Bohème (1965) and Il Tabarro (Der Mantel) (1955). He died on 17 December 1999 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.

Dario Oppido was born on 13 February 1965 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is an actor, known for Beowulf: The Game (2007), Cold Fear (2005) and Grim Fandango (1998).

Luciano Chailly was born on 18 January 1920 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Luciano was a composer, known for Luciano, una vita bruciata (1962). Luciano died on 24 December 2002 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.

Enrico Saletti was born on 30 September 1967 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for Nemmeno il destino (2004), I nostri anni (2000) and Unknown Beyond (2001).

Silvia Pasello was born on 4 October 1957 in Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She was an actress, known for Macbeth horror suite di Carmelo Bene da William Shakespeare (1997), Il resto di niente (2004) and Edipo (2004). She died on 30 October 2023 in Pontedera, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.