A group of rich Italians decide to go for a cruise and spend a relaxing afternoon on an uninhabited island. However, when one of them inexplicably disappears, underlying feelings and tensions start to surface...

Michelangelo Antonioni passed away last year (freakishly, within 24 hours of the passing of another twentieth-century celebrated European director, Ingmar Bergman), and this is our tribute to him. L'Avventura is the first part of a tetralogy, followed by La Notte, L'Eclisse and Il Deserto Rosso, that deals with strained relationships and "existential anxiety in an increasingly fragmented world" (to quote the NFVLS). I saw the first two at special screenings in the Italian Film festival a couple of years back, and they are very intriguing and engaging, with a style of their own. They also bear repeat viewing, as there are many mysteries about the story (Can you actually see a shark? Who is on that small boat you see just before the character disappears?).

L'Avventura lost the Palme D'Or at Cannes to La Dolce Vita (what a great year for Italian cinema!) but won the Jury prize. It is also one of the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" ((ndash)) what more reason do you need to come along?