The Audiovisual Institute of Monaco is offering cinephiles a chance to rediscover one of the most influential films of the 20th century with a special screening of Blow-Up on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Théâtre des Variétés…
Directed by Italian maestro Michelangelo Antonioni in 1966, Blow-Up won the Palme d’Or at Cannes the following year and remains a defining work of its era.
A product of swinging 60s London, Blow-Up is both a stylish thriller and a profound philosophical exploration. The film follows a disenchanted fashion photographer, drifting through a world of models and materialism, who stumbles upon what may be a murder captured by accident in one of his photographs. What follows is a slow descent into ambiguity as he tries to uncover a truth that seems to dissolve the closer he looks.
Vincent Vatrican, Director of the Audiovisual Institute, describes Blow-Up as “an absolute masterpiece” and “a pure product of its time.” For him, Antonioni’s genius lies in his ability to capture the spirit of an era—both its surface glamour and its hidden disillusionment. “The film perfectly translates the London of the 60s,” he explained in a preview interview, “and it masterfully explores the tension between appearance and reality.”
More than a mystery, Blow-Up is a meditation on perception, truth, and the limitations of the camera lens. With its cool visual style, haunting score, and iconic ending, the film continues to influence filmmakers and captivate audiences nearly six decades after its release.
The screening is part of the Institute’s ongoing mission to celebrate cinematic heritage in the Principality. Tickets are available now at the Théâtre des Variétés box office.
