L'Avventura

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L'Avventura

Released Mar 4, 1961

2h 25m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

88%

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5,000+ Ratings

In Michelangelo Antonioni's classic of Italian cinema, two lovely young women, Claudia (Monica Vitti) and Anna (Léa Massari), join the latter's lover, Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti), on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, an extensive search is launched. In the meantime, Sandro and Claudia become involved in a romance despite Anna's disappearance, though the relationship suffers from the guilt and tension brought about by the looming mystery.

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Critics Consensus

L'Avventura marks a bewitchingly ambiguous milestone in Antonioni's career -- and European cinema in general.

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Stewart Allen

Arizona Republic

Compared to movies, period, L'Avventura is good. But "good" for Antonioni is too flat and monotonous a praise, much like this picture.

Sep 2, 2020

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Rightly considered to be a cinematic landmark.

Apr 5, 2017

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Antonioni's cool, beautifully photographed film isn't really a mystery and certainly not a thriller. Audiences over the years have delighted in deciding what it really is all about.

Apr 5, 2017

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Lavventura” doesn’t seek a conventional framework. It asks the audience the observe, think, and process. It is that type of engagement that makes Antonioni’s film a true classic.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 22, 2022

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Dilys Powell

Sunday Times (UK)

L'Avventura is a film all of one piece: landscape and architecture, the sound of the sea and the eloquent asides of Giovanni Fusco's score.

Aug 10, 2022

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

L’avventura fascinated and infuriated audiences with its deliberately cryptic tale...

May 23, 2022

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Will G

A great French and Italian film. The acting was superb. It was nice to see Europe. There was some drama and romance. I enjoyed the scenes with boats and helicopters. The plot was interesting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Camero W

True cinema. The shots, the plot, the score, and the boldness.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/24

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Luca D

One thing I disliked about this film was the runtime. I felt a lot of scenes dragged on with no dialogue or meaning. Just more and more shots of the surrounding scenery. Though it gets cookie points for being beautifully shot (+ Sicily is gorgeous). The acting is great. The plot is romantic but at the same time the ending doesn't really make sense. I read the ending as the film as showing how quickly feelings change and how we have to be easier on peoples emotional changes, as long as it's clear they did not intend to hurt you. I would recommend to most but please remember it's a very long film, romantic but not something to watch with a pestering girlfriend.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/08/23

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Alexsander F

Um filme interessante mas sem seguir uma linha linear, bem comum nos filmes italianos dessa época.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/23

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CodyZamboni Z

Movie is kind of overrated, But I can see what the filmmaker was driving at, Monica Vitti is the whole show,

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

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dave s

In Michelangelo Antonioni's L'Avventura, friendship and love are fleeting and dispensable commodities in the world of the wealthy and powerful. When a group of affluent Italians anchor their boat to explore a remote volcanic island, one of the women inexplicably disappears. However, what starts as a mystery eventually evolves into something quite different as the fiancé of the missing woman seeks comfort in the arms of the woman's best friend. Those expecting a film that neatly ties up all of the loose ends will no doubt be disappointed by the outcome of L'Avventura, but the film is ultimately a meticulous examination of corrupted human nature that features beautiful cinematography, interesting directorial choices by Antonioni and a great performance from the beautiful Monica Vitti.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Michelangelo Antonioni

Director

Monica Vitti

Claudia

Gabriele Ferzetti

Sandro

Lea Massari

Anna

Dominique Blanchar

Giulia

Lelio Luttazzi

Raimondo

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Remembering Michelangelo Antonioni

Yep, "Little Fockers"

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Synopsis

In Michelangelo Antonioni's classic of Italian cinema, two lovely young women, Claudia (Monica Vitti) and Anna (Léa Massari), join the latter's lover, Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti), on a boat trip to a remote volcanic island. When Anna goes missing, an extensive search is launched. In the meantime, Sandro and Claudia become involved in a romance despite Anna's disappearance, though the relationship suffers from the guilt and tension brought about by the looming mystery.

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Producer: Cino Del Duca, Raymond Hakim, Robert Hakim, Amato Pennasilico, Luciano Perugia
Screenwriter: Michelangelo Antonioni, Elio Bartolini, Tonino Guerra
Distributor: Criterion Collection, Janus Films
Production Co: Societé Cinématographique Lyre
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 1961, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2009
Runtime: 2h 25m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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