Red Desert is a 1964 Italian-French film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The film stars Monica Vitti in the lead role of Giuliana, who is a wife and mother living in an industrial town in Italy. She is struggling to cope with her anxiety and paranoia amidst the pollution and bleakness of the industrial landscape. Her husband Ugo, played by Carlo Chionetti, is a successful businessman who is more interested in his work than his family. Giuliana's mental state is made worse by her son's illness, which she blames on the toxic environment. When Ugo's old friend, Corrado, played by Richard Harris, comes to town, he becomes interested in Giuliana and they start an affair, but his feelings for her are more genuine than hers for him. Amidst her struggles with reality and existential angst, Giuliana seeks solace in her brief moments with Corrado, but his departure only exacerbates her mental decline. The film is often cited as a masterpiece of Italian neorealism and a stunning examination of the human psyche in the face of modernity and industrialization.
