¶ … colors, when all you could see was black and white, when nobody could think of a featured film, it was then that the director Antonio came up with a film "story of a love affair" which challenged the traditional ideas and themes. Cronaca di un amore is an Italian black and white drama film which was released in 1950. The movie is known as 'Chronicle of a Love' in the United Kingdom, and 'Story of a Love Affair' in the United States of America. It was the first venture of the director Michelangelo Antonioni as a whole length feature film. Before this the director Michelangelo Antonioni has been famous for different short films and he was also given the opportunity to direct a documentary about the internal works of an asylum but he abandoned this opportunity. Story of a Love Affair was his first narrative feature film (Venturi, 1955).
With his powerful grip on directions, Antonio hasn't failed though the movie could have been better if he had worked on the script more. Moving towards the film, one can see how Antonio has saved his movie, by getting rejected, with the help of some moments which take the audience breath away. People may remember Story of A love affair with some another name, probably 'Cronaca di un amore' or 'Chronicle of a Love however, this film is popularly known as Story of Love affair in many parts of the world which is the first narrative feature film by an Italian director.
Italian Cinema and its History
Neo-realism phase of Italian cinema emerged and surfaced from the false consciousness and other characteristics of the period of cold war was that people were looking for affection, warmth, and tenderness in the simulated environment and therefore the neo-realist films and movies of the Italian cinema were appreciated by the critics for showcasing and presenting the concept of sweetness and humanity (Bondanella, 2007).
The Italian cinema made a rapid growth during the period of Second World War when there were less or no American films and the German cinema was enjoying monopoly over the market of the Europe. After Second World War, the film industry and cinema of Germany was demolished and destroyed but at that time the French and Italian cinema was at verge of growth and dominating the market (Bondanella, 2007).
After the decline of the neo-realism the Italian cinema entered into the phase of the post neo-realism which was marked by movies and films about topic other than the warmth, affection, and sweetness. 'Story of a Love Affair' is the movie of an era which showed betrayal, jealousy, suspiciousness, and murder plot and changed the sweet and caring image of the Italian films and movies (Bondanella, 2007).
About the Movie
The main stars of the film were Massimo Girotti, Ferdinando Sarmi, Lucia Bose, and Gino Rossi. The film is known to be a sleek and attractive post neo-realism film which contributed in taking the charm and attraction of Italian cinema with film noir into the psychologically dangerous and risky region (Johnston, 2006).
When Michelangelo Antonioni died in 2007, he left behind some remarkable work such as "the passenger." However story of a love affair, released in 1950, is where Antonioni's own…
