The Final Sequence of Zabriskie Point
July 23, 2009 // Art + Films

In 1970 Michelangelo Antonioni released a little film called Zabriskie Point, which I’ll admit right now that I’ve never seen before. The movie seems a bit weird, so I’ll cut and paste Wikipedia’s description:

It tells the story of a young couple — an idealistic, free spirited young woman, and an aspiring radical turned fugitive. They meet in the desert under bizarre circumstances, instantly connect with a fearless spirit, and then part with tragic consequences. When the fugitive dies in an attempt to reconcile his minor transgressions with the police his new-found lover’s connection to the corporate and government establishment is psychologically and permanently severed when she visualizes the home of her corporate lover/boss exploding in slow motion.

And it’s this final scene that I want you to see, where Daria imagines her lover/bosses house exploding. The beginning of the sequence is shown from about 279 different angles, but once you hit the 2 minute mark you start seeing just random things exploding and flying through the air, all floating in slow motion to a rather amazing Pink Floyd song. I swear, only an Italian director like Antonioni could do something like this nearly 40 years ago. I especially love the TV being blown up, as well as the random chicken/turkey shooting past the screen.

Bobby

  1. Cool. Reminds me of Roman Coppola’s video for Fatboy Slim’s Gangsta Trippin’; this probably influneced the vid:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgdknPfOfDI

    Comment by Richard — July 23, 2009 #

  2. wow! Daria is an old friend of mine. I’ve been reading your posts for a long time and this hit very close to home. I’ll mention this to her. Funny movie, right? very hard to find in shops…

    Comment by Christopher Lyons — July 23, 2009 #

  3. wow
    ima try and find that and watch it

    thanks!!

    Comment by phil — July 23, 2009 #

  4. that was pretty damn rad…

    Comment by james jay — July 24, 2009 #

  5. Antonioni is known for fantastic endings. The endings of The Passenger and Blow-Up are some of the best scenes in the history of film.

    Comment by Matt Voor — July 24, 2009 #

  6. When this movie came out we all wanted to drive F 100’s and be Uni radicals we where idealistic and dreamers. this was a time of us and them (pigs and corporates, not politically correct now). It’s really worth a look, and the music is just great (from what i remember). Also long before Photoshop and CG.

    Comment by peter — October 11, 2009 #