Antonioni‘s 1966 film Blow Up‘s influence on a generation of to-be photographers is probably old news to most of you, but to those youngsters who haven’t seen it or heard of it, it’s worth researching and seeing.  Or at least ask any photographer in their 50s about it, b/c they’ll most likely get a big grin and tell you how this film was the reason they became a photographer.  It’s an excellent portrayal of the mod-swinging-London heyday when photography was just taking off in advertising, and shooting was cool as hell, easy, and you made grips of money doing it (based directly on David Bailey‘s lifestyle).  You can imagine when this hit the 1960’s countryside every twinkle-in-their-eye boy decided it was their calling.

On a not so simple level, despite the easy to the point of boring plot, it’s a difficult and irksome film that you’re probably most likely to catch in a film theory class in University.  It took me two viewings to appreciate the not so noticeable levels of meaning weaved through the film.  Or you can just watch it to sigh and smirk at the glory days gone in the fashion biz.

And if you’re a jazz fan, the soundtrack is by Herbie Hancock.

photo: movie poster for Blow Up