La Notte, L' Elisse or L' Avventura? Which one is better?

While these films were done in sequence, and all feature Monica Vitti, it should be understood they are not a trilogy in the sense of sharing any kind of story lines. Although all can be generally said to explore issues and questions of existential anxiety, they do so in respect of distinct situations.

Having said that, I tend to agree that I would not recommend seeing L'Eclisse first. Start with L'Avventura, then La Notte.

And having said that, L'Eclisse is my favorite, certainly of the three. I think it should be seen as such for the way it uses a near realistic (but not completely) style to explore the way in which people feel a particularly modern form of anxiety, while not divorced from the pleasures of human experience. Also noteworthy is how the narrative structure is so unconventional, but in this case as a way not merely to be clever, as some might unfairly feel, as to accomplish two important things. The first is the narrative proceeds in a way that contains digressions, with the point being that in fact this sort of thing is part of life. "Stories" do not proceed in real life in direct uninterrupted linear fashion. We experience life on one level as the clock ticks, but the way we "experience" life in terms of learning from it, the things and experiences that give meaning to us, are experienced often in a non-linear way.

The second is related to the first, and that is that even our search for meaning does not always, even usually, arrive at a set and easy conclusion. In fact sometimes the absence of any definite conclusion in itself tells us "something" about life and meaning. Perhaps we have merely asked the "wrong" questions.

The ending is part of this unique and particular narrative, and works not to provide a simple answer, meaning conclusion, to the film that precedes it, instead serving to place the story in a context which makes Antonioni's point.

Masterpiece is an overused word, perhaps, but this film deserves to be considered as one.

Jelly,

I have seen this inquiry of yours before, and have not been sure how to answer it. I suspect this film might not be for you, but then you did say you enjoyed Zabriskie Point, so you must feel there is something about the director that might appeal to you beyond htat film.

Unfortunately one can make the argument that Point is in fact a rather different sort of film. It is obviously a different film in the surface sense - in color and English. Perhaps these things are working against L'Eclisse for you?

As to your questions concerning L'Avventura and La Notte, yes, imo not only are they "any good and worth watching", but are both great films. If one can I would recommend seeing them in order, although as I noted in my previous entry on this thread, they are not really a trilogy in the sense of having a common narrative thread. Thematically they share an examination of existential anxiety, generally in the context of relationships between couples.

But I sense you will not have the attention span for them, either. Good luck.