Review of Red Desert (1964) by Subrat S — 09 Oct 2007

The Red Desert is an incisive portrayal of how technology has encroached upon the â??natural orderâ?? and thereby the spiritual, psychological, and emotional space of human existenceâ??as though an invisible, silent, bloody war between the â??pristineâ?? and the â??deformedâ?? inside the mindscape.

And the twin casualties in the war are â??sanityâ?? of a woman who is desperately seeking affection in a superfluous, mechanized society and â??natureâ?? that is no longer an equal partner in the technology-ridden progress of the human kind.

.. With the options of colour, contrary to what one would generally expect, Antonioni demystifies the elitist notion of â??art is beautifulâ?? â?? as slammed by the surrealists â?? and ruthlessly paints â??realityâ?? in pale grey hues, occasionally contrasting them with bright, disparaging colours to highlight the emotional disconnect and environmental perils that technology has brought in.

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