Beyond the Clouds (1995): Antonioni Directs Four Erotic Tales in his Final Movie, Starring Sophie Marceau, Fanny Ardant, Chiara Caselli, Peter Weller, Jean Reno, Irene Jacob, Vincent Perez, Marcello Mastroianni

Perhaps the best example of a tenaciously creative director, who refuses to succumb to age or illness, is Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni. A stroke felled Antonioni in 1985, but instead of sinking into despair, he went back to work, reaffirming his motto, “To direct is to live.”

At 83, Antonioni showed his creativity in Beyond the Clouds, a film that flaunted a young glamorous cast and dealt with a series of tangled romantic and sexual relationships.

What made Beyond the Clouds notable was the fact that Antonioni directed it in the first place.

When insurance companies refused to guarantee the project, the producers hired director Wim Wenders as a standby. But from the very first day, Antonioni was in full control, and reportedly angry at any attempt at interference.

Narrative Structure:

The film consists of 4 stories of romantic love and illusion told from the perspective of a wandering film director.

The director (John Malkovich) is flying to Italy following the conclusion of his latest film. On the airplane, as he looks out beyond the clouds, he begins to think about his next film and the art of filmmaking. Upon landing, he drives through the night through thick fog, with people appearing and disappearing like apparitions.

In the first story, two young lovers are unable to consummate their passion because the young man desires an impossible perfection.

In the second story, the director makes love to a young woman who reveals that she murdered her father.

In the third story, a man makes an effort to appease both his wife and his mistress.

In the fourth story, a young man is infatuated with a girl who is about to enter a convent.

It became a totally and singularly Antonioni film, reflecting his uncommon vision, detailed camera setups, unique sense of color, distinctive composition of frames.

This was the final feature-length film by Antonioni before his death in 2007.