Cronaca Di Un Amore (aka Story Of A Love Affair) (1950)

A jealous husband (Ferdinando Sarmi) hires a private investigator (Gino Rossi) to investigate his wife's past. The investigation causes the man's wife (Lucia Bose) and her ex-lover (Massimo Girotti) to reunite after seven years when the lover becomes suspicious that it might be the police looking into the mysterious death of his ex-fiancee where both were present. Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni (L'AVVENTURA) in his feature film debut. This is an impressive film debut and directed with all the confidence of a veteran yet still startlingly fresh in its execution. The film has the trimmings of film noir but it transcends the inherent pulpiness of the genre as it places its two protagonists under scrutiny as their long buried guilt comes to the forefront and effectively dooms any future they might have had. Antonioni's tactile visuals add an intensity to what might have been a standard noir. Amazingly, Lucia Bose was only 19 at the time of filming but you'd never know it. She brings the self assurance of an experienced actress to her part. With Marika Rowsky and Rubi D'Alma.