Story of a Love Affair

Original title: Cronaca di un amore

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

3.5K

YOUR RATING

Antonioni is one of the most influential filmmakers of all times, indeed critics revere him as the 'creator' of Modern Cinema. His STORY OF A LOVE AFFAIR, aka Cronaca di un Amore, is his first feature film, a Noir thriller with sensual themes of yearning and jealousy. It is considered a masterpiece by Scorsese among others.

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Crime Drama Romance

Paola is a young, beautiful woman married to a wealthy entrepreneur. She meets her former lover Guido after seven years, but their relationship is marked by tragic events.Paola is a young, beautiful woman married to a wealthy entrepreneur. She meets her former lover Guido after seven years, but their relationship is marked by tragic events.Paola is a young, beautiful woman married to a wealthy entrepreneur. She meets her former lover Guido after seven years, but their relationship is marked by tragic events.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

3.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 1 nomination total

Trivia
Michelangelo Antonioni's feature film directorial debut. He wanted to cast Gene Tierney as Paola, but since he was an unknown European director he could not get her. Eventually he met then 19 year old Lucia Bosè, who had been Miss Italy 1947, while having lunch at fellow director Luchino Visconti's house. While initially skeptical over her maturity, Visconti convinced him to audition her.

Goofs
After Paola says, "Leave me alone," the camera moves to follow her as she collapses onto her bed. In the upper right corner of the frame, a white drape can be briefly seen before it is pulled out of the path of the camera.

Connections
Featured in The Films of Marco Ferreri: A discussion with Rolando Caputo (2008)

User reviews25

Review

Featured review

10/10

Story of a love affair!

"Cronaca di un amore" was Antonioni's first full-length film. It's a romantic film noir, full of passion, but very far from the Hollywood saccharine romanticism.

It begins almost as a police film: an investigation is being led about Paola Molon. A detective is walking around, asking questions about her.

Seven years ago, Paola (Lucia Bosé) was in love with Guido (Massimo Girotti). Guido was engaged to Paola's best female friend, but there was already love between Guido and Paola. Still, one day a tragic accident happens. And this accident will tear Guido and Paola apart. And now this investigation will reunite them again. Their love is rekindled.

Paola is now married to a wealthy entrepreneur, lives in a mansion, has servants, a car with chauffeur etc.., but Guido' life has been a constant struggle to make ends meet. (Remember that we are in 1950, some years after the end of the war, and Italy was still far away from her economic boom).....

"Cronaca di un amore" shows already Antonioni as an accomplished master. His eye for small details be it in interior or exterior scenes, his ability in directing actors, his sensitive use of land and cityscape - all these qualities are displayed in full force in the film.

Lucia Bosé is an outstanding actress - she is able to portray intense and contradictory emotions just by her facial expressions. Her acting is subtle and powerful. She's a real diva. Giovanni Fusco's soundtrack is a perfect companion to Antonioni's images.

"Cronaca di un amore" is a very beautiful film.