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To add on to the Asia Line-up of 2008, three more Asian titles are due on the big screen end of the year. "Butterfly Lovers", a martial arts period romance based on the classic Chinese novel 'Butterfly Lovers' and starring Taiwan's current hottest idol Wu Chun, Charlene Choi from 'Twins', the lovers will reunite on 11 September.

Also in the same month comes "Lady Cop and Papa Crook", helmed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong of "Confession of Pain", the latest project by the talented duo stars HK superstars Sammi Cheng and Eason Chan.

And yes, the long awaited Thai action star Tony Jaa will grace the screens in December with "Ong Bak 2", a sequel which features a completely new story and characters. (All dates subject to change so do visit us often for the latest updates, only on moviexclusive.com the top ranking independent movie website in Singapore!)

Just when you thought the summer season has crowded out the multiplex with week-in-and-week-out of the same old yarn from the Hollywood blockbusters, trust the National Museum, and co-presenter the Italian Cultural Institute Singapore (btw, the Italian Film Festival is on from 4 to 15 June), to schedule a retrospect of films from Italian master Michelangelo Antonioni to provide a break from the monotonous razzle dazzle.

For the uninitiated like me, it's excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with his films on the big screen, and I believe it'll be a treat for many as well since a number of films for the retrospect is on 35mm.

Here's the schedule! Time to block book your calendar!
All films by Michelangelo Antonioni unless otherwise stated.

Thursday 19 June
7.30 pm Blowup
1966 / UK, Italy / 110 min / 35 mm / NC16

Friday 20 June
7.30 pm Zabriskie Point
1970 / Italy / 110 min / 35 mm / R21

Saturday 21 June (Free Admission. Submit email registration to chua_li_koon@nhb.gov.sg)
11.00 am Lo Sguardo Di Michelangelo / The Gaze of Michelangelo
2004 / Italy / 18 min / Beta / PG

Con Michelangelo
Dir: Enrica Antonioni
2005 / Italy / 58 min / Beta / PG

To Make a Film is to be Alive / Fare un film per me è vivere
Dir: Enrica Antonioni
1995 / Italy / 52 min / Beta / PG

(Total films duration: 128 min)

4.30 pm Short Films by Michelangelo Antonioni (1943 – 1953)
- People of the Po / Gente del Po
- Sanitation Department / N.U. - Nettezza Urbana
- Lies of Love / L'amorosa Menzogna
- Superstition / Superstizione
- Seven Reeds, One Suit / Sette Canne, Un Vestito
- The Villa of Monsters / La Villa Dei Mostri
- Virtigine
- Suicide Attempt / Tentato Suicidio
(Total duration: 81 min)

7.00 pm China / Chung Kuo – Cina
1972 / Italy / 217 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC
(With two five-minute intermissions)

Sunday 22 June
11.00 am Story of a Love Affair / Cronaca di un Amore
1950 / Italy / 110 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

2.00 pm The Vanquished / I Vinti
1952 / Italy / 110 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

4.30 pm The Lady Without Camelias / La Signora Senza Camelie
1953 / Italy / 105 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Thursday 26 June
7.30 pm The Adventure / L’avventura
1960 / Italy / 140 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Friday 27 June
7.30 pm The Night / La Notte
1961 / Italy / 122 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Saturday 28 June
11.00 am The Girlfriends / Le Amiche
1955 / Italy / 105 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

4.30 pm The Outcry / Il Grido
1957 / Italy / 105 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

7.30 pm The Eclipse / L'eclisse
1962 / Italy / 125 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Sunday 29 June
11.00 am Short Films by Michelangelo Antonioni (1978 – 1997)
- Return to Lisca Bianca / Ritorno a Lisca Bianca
- Fotoromanza
- Kumbha Mela
- Roma '90
- Volcanoes and Carnival / Noto Mandorli Vulcano Stromboli Carnevale
- Sicilia
Rating TBC
(Total duration: 69 min)

2.00 pm The Red Desert / Il Deserto Rosso
1964 / Italy / 120 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

4.30 pm Visions of Reality
A Roundtable Discussion on the Cinema of Michelangelo Antonioni
(Free Admission. Submit email registration to chua_li_koon@nhb.gov.sg)

7.30 pm The Passenger / Professione: Reporter
1972 / Italy, Spain, France / 120 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC
Shown together with:
The Last Sequence of The Passenger / L'ultima Sequenza Di Professione: Reporter
Dir: André S. Labarthe
1974 / France, Italy / 12 min / Beta / Rating TBC

Thursday 3 July
7.30 pm The Mystery of Oberwald / Il mistero di Oberwald
1981 / Italy / 123 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Friday 4 July
7.30 pm Identification of a Woman / Identificazione Di Una Donna
1982 / Italy / 128 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Saturday 5 July (Free Admission. Submit email registration to chua_li_koon@nhb.gov.sg)
11.00 am Antonioni Seen by Antonioni / Antonioni Visto Da Antonioni
Dir: Lino Miccichè
1978 / Italy / 28 min / Beta / Rating TBC

Antonioni: The Vision That Changed Cinema / Antonioni, Lo Sguardo Che Cambio' Il Cinema
Dir: Carlo di Carlo
2001 / Italy / 60 min / Beta / Rating TBC
(Total duration: 88 min)

4.30 pm Blowup
1966 / UK, Italy / 110 min / 35 mm / NC16

7.30 pm Beyond the Clouds / Al Di Là Delle Nuvole
Dir: Michelangelo Antonioni with Wim Wenders
1995 / Italy, France, Germany / 109 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Sunday 6 July
11.00 am The Adventure / L’avventura
1960 / Italy / 140 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

2.00 pm The Night / La Notte
1961 / Italy / 122 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

4.30 pm The Eclipse / L'eclisse
1962 / Italy / 125 min / 35 mm / Rating TBC

Ticketing Information

Tickets are priced at $8.00 per session, with a concession price of $6.40 for students, seniors (aged above 60), NSF, and National Museum Members and Volunteers.

For a limited time, purchase five tickets or more for only $6.00 each. Offer is only available for counter sales and will end 11 June 2008.

Counter Sales
Visitor Services Counter: 10 am – 7.30 pm

Online Booking: www.nationalmuseum.sg

General enquiries: (65) 6332 3659 / (65) 6332 5642

Patrons are advised that a valid identity pass showing proof of age is required for all screenings. Please check www.nationalmuseum.sg for updates on film ratings.

You can also download the booklet with synopses and the schedule here (PDF file).