Professione: reporter

English title: Passenger (The)

Also known as: Profession: reporter

Genre: psychological drama – suspense

Director: Michelangelo Antonioni

Release: 1975

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Rating: PG-13

MBiS score: 8.5/10

                                                                     

For the Hell of It

While working on a documentary in North Africa, journalist David Locke (Jack Nicholson) finds the dead body of David Robertson, a recent acquaintance, and decides to steal his identity. With Maria Schneider (the Girl), Jenny Runacre (Rachel), Ian Hendry (Martin Knight), Charles Mulvehill (David Robertson), Steven Berkoff (Stephen) and Ambrose Bia (Achebe).

Michelangelo Antonioni is celebrated in international circles for several striking films (L’AVVENTURA, BLOW-UP, ZABRISKIE POINT) and his PROFESSIONE: REPORTER is another stunner. It’s certainly arty, impressionistic and atmospheric… but it also delivers enough mystery and suspense to catch any viewer’s interest. As Locke forges Robertson’s passport and changes identities, you’ll wonder why he would turn his back on everything he had to pursue a life he knows nothing about. The answer, though not straightforward, does emerge from the film’s fine screenplay by Mark Peploe, Peter Wollen, Miguel De Echarri and Antonioni himself. Locke’s story plays like a puzzle, an intriguing riddle that will stay on your mind until the final frames.  

In form, PROFESSIONE: REPORTER is an atypical and invigorating chase movie. Gorgeous visuals shot in Africa and Europe, quality editing and winning turns by Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider all contribute to the film’s success. Dialogues may seem whimsical and even obtuse but are never vague when precision is needed; in that regard, the comments made by an African statesman are especially true-life in that they hide as much as they reveal. The only problem I had with this superior film − and one you should be aware of if you want to fully enjoy it – stems from its difficult ending; it fits well with the narrative but you may need to see it twice (as I did) if you don’t get it the first time around.

Curiously enough, I first learned about this movie in the 80s when I saw a picture of Nicholson and Schneider in a beat-up Larousse dictionary. Having finally seen it, I can confirm what better reviewers have already said: PROFESSIONE: REPORTER is a masterful motion picture. Locke may have taken a gamble but you won’t have to if you follow him from Africa to London and from Munich to Spain. In your case, adventure is risk-free.

MBiS

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