O Deserto Vermelho (1964)

In an industrial area, Giuliana, an unstable woman, attempts to cope with life by starting an affair with a co-worker at the plant her husband manages.

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra

Stars:

Monica Vitti, Richard Harris, Carlo Chionetti

7 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Monica Vitti	...	Giuliana
Richard Harris	...	Corrado Zeller
Carlo Chionetti	...	Ugo
Xenia Valderi	...	Linda
Rita Renoir	...	Emilia
Lili Rheims	...	Telescope operator's wife
Aldo Grotti	...	Max
Valerio Bartoleschi	...	Valerio - Giuliana's son
Emanuela Pala Carboni	...	Girl in fable
Bruno Borghi
Beppe Conti
Giulio Cotignoli
Giovanni Lolli
Hiram Mino Madonia
Giuliano Missirini	...	Radio telescope operator

Storyline

In a bleak rundown industrial area a young woman, Giuliana, tries to cope with life. She's married to Ugo the manager of a local plant but is soon having an affair with one of his co-workers, Corrado Zeller, who is visiting. Giuliana is unstable, not quite knowing anymore just what her role is, whether that be a wife, a mother or just another person. Her escape from life is short-lived however as Zeller is simply using her to satisfy his own needs and desires.

---

Plot Keywords:

depression | factory | fog | ship | color in title | 

---

Taglines:

MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI...his first color film

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

M/16

Did You Know?

Trivia

After A Aventura (1960), A Noite (1961) and O Eclipse (1962), this would be the last of Michelangelo Antonioni's collaborations with Monica Vitti until O Mistério de Oberwald (1980).

---

Quotes

Linda, Max's Wife: Where's Augusto?
Mili: I dumped him.
Linda, Max's Wife: Since when?
Mili: I can't go to bed with a man who earns less than me.

---

Alternate Versions

A restored version has been released in 1999, edited by Vincenzo Verzini.

---

Connections

Referenced in Michelangelo Antonioni storia di un autore (1965)

User Reviews

I'm one of its followers...

If I could, I would deify this film. What most impresses me about a film is exhibited here to the utmost: mood. After this film is done, I feel completely destroyed. If you did not feel alienated from the world around you when you started, you will be by the end. If you were feeling alienated when you started, then you may just be contemplating suicide when the film ends. This mood is absolutely crushing. It affects me more than any other film, with some exceptions that are equal with it - 2001, Persona, The Passion of Joan of Arc, and maybe a couple of others that I can't think of offhand. Red Desert is a perfect film. If anything else, at least one must be able to appreciate the masterful visual composition. If you're dismissing this film, you're really missing something. 10/10

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian Turkish

Release Date:

29 October 1964 (Italy)

Also Known As:

O Deserto Vermelho

Filming Locations:

Spiaggia Rosa, Isola di Budelli, Sardinia, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,076

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Duemila, Federiz, Francoriz Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1