Antonioni, Michelangelo, << ahn toh nee OH nee, mee kehl AHN jehl oh >> (1912-2007), was an Italian motion-picture director. He became noted for his method of emphasizing visual symbolism instead of the plot in motion pictures. Antonioni’s best films—L’Avventura (The Adventure, 1960) and La Notte (The Night, 1960)—concern people who have lost their purpose in life despite financial success.
Antonioni was born on Sept. 29, 1912, in Ferrara. He was a film critic before becoming an assistant director and film writer. He first gained recognition when he made the dramatic film Chronicle of a Summer (1950). He then directed Le Amiche (The Girl Friends, 1955), The Eclipse (1962), and The Red Desert (1964). He achieved international acclaim with Blow-Up (1966), his first English-language film, and The Passenger (1975). Antonioni died on July 30, 2007.
