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Red Desert

Original title: Il deserto rosso
  • 1964
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Monica Vitti in Red Desert (1964)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for Red Desert
Play trailer1:24
1 Video
99+ Photos
Psychological DramaDrama

In an industrial area, unstable Giuliana attempts to cope with life by starting an affair with a co-worker at the plant her husband manages.In an industrial area, unstable Giuliana attempts to cope with life by starting an affair with a co-worker at the plant her husband manages.In an industrial area, unstable Giuliana 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
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michelangelo Antonioni
    • Writers
      • Michelangelo Antonioni
      • Tonino Guerra
    • Stars
      • Monica Vitti
      • Richard Harris
      • Carlo Chionetti
    • 66User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Red Desert: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:24
    Red Desert: The Criterion Collection

    Photos140

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    + 134
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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Monica Vitti
    Monica Vitti
    • Giuliana
    Richard Harris
    Richard Harris
    • Corrado Zeller
    Carlo Chionetti
    Carlo Chionetti
    • Ugo
    Xenia Valderi
    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
    Arturo Parmiani
    Carla Ravasi
    • Jole
    Ivo Scherpiani
    • Director
      • Michelangelo Antonioni
    • Writers
      • Michelangelo Antonioni
      • Tonino Guerra
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    5.2
    Red Desert

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Hemmings claims in his autobiography that Richard Harris was kicked off the film after he punched Antonioni, and that the scenes that were still to be completed were done with another actor who was photographed from behind. Hemmings was apparently told this when Harris warned him about Antonioni when Hemmings was working on Blow-Up (1966).
    • Quotes

      Giuliana: There's something terrible about reality and i don't know what it is. No one will tell me.

    • Alternate versions
      A restored version has been released in 1999, edited by Vincenzo Verzini.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Fatale beauté (1994)

    User reviews66

    Featured review

    Very disturbing

    I honestly have no idea what made me push through full two hours of this movie, it may have been my curiosity, or some doubt that this movie may be trying to tell me something important which may unravel by the end.. If there was an underlying philosophical theme, I have completely failed to grasp it. I don't think there was any philosophical background to it all.. The quality of cinematography in this piece cannot be argued though..

    For me, this movie is as close depiction of insanity that I have ever seen it in any movie, without any shugar coating, it is raw and disturbing, coupled with a very depressing yet beautiful visuals of the industrial wasteland. I'm not an expert in psychology, but the beautiful italian lady seems to be suffering from a severe bipolar disorder coupled with a strong narcissistic traits.

    The thing that really bothered me was the randomness of events in this movie, and by the very end I just couldn't wrap my head around it all.The only movie that I could moderately compare to this one to in style and aesthetics would be Stalker, with long speechless shots and gloomy surroundings. But again, Stalker gave me something to work with, as opposed to this movie which just left me guessing whats the meaning of it all.. I'm usually a very oppinionated movie viewer, but this time I'll just pass giving any rating..

    If you're willing to see what insanity looks like close up with none of light motifs usually following in those kind of movies, be my guest, but if you are prone to anxiety, I would urge you to not watch this because I'm not a very anxious person, and after watching I feel like I've had a freight train run through my head.
    • virtue_srb
    • Jul 9, 2019
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 1965 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • Rdeča puščava
    • Filming locations
      • Sardinia, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Film Duemila
      • Federiz
      • Francoriz Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $18,643
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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