Zabriskie Point (1970)

 Michelangelo Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point"


As someone who is an Antonioni fanatic who constantly defends his works against people who 'don't understand' it, I was ready with my defenses when I saw how much his 1970 film "Zabriskie Point" was slammed by critics upon its release, along with being an utter commercial failure. However, after watching the film, I was caught off guard by how vehemently opposed to the film I was. 

I feel as though I can understand Antonioni's intention with this film: the American youth and their attempts to escape the rampant capitalism and consumer culture. However, the execution of this thematic point was completely 'cringe,' as the kids say. I rolled my eyes numerous times throughout the film at the excruciating attempts to portray an 'artistic' atmosphere that only feels forced and contrived. With his Italian films (and even his one U.K. film), many critics pointed to this 'forced artistry,' of which I was always adamantly defiant of this opinion. However, for the very first time, Antonioni's vision doesn't work and it comes across exactly how his detractors view him.

 


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