MovieChat Forums > Professione: reporter (1975) Discussion > Who is the Passenger?

Who is the Passenger?

posted 11 years ago by thederf
5 replies | jump to latest

Like many Antonioni films even the title is ambiguous. Just who or what is the passenger? Is David Locke just along for the fatal ride with no chance of getting off? Is David Robertson not really in control of his "business" and being driven by darker forces he does not realize? Is the girl just a wandering
"hitchhiker" David Locke picks up or is she actually driving him to his obvious demise? Are we, the audience, voyuers, just uninvolved passengers watching the story unfold? Or does the title allude to life itself? Do we passively, grudgingly accept our "role" and identity in life or can we steer our selves in a direction we want? With of course unforeseen consequences.
Like all great art there are no answers in the film. Just questions that beg new questions. Or are the answers there in the film and those of us who choose to be more than just a passenger drive away enriched and satisfied?

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Locke`s trajectory in the film sure reeks of predetermination - he`ll end up where he did end up despite all formal changes of identity he`s attempting to will to life. And, as such, his journey serving as a metaphor for life in general makes sense as well.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] maturity 9 years ago

Or maybe he was just suicidal. He could have quit any time and gone back to his regular life and just said the guy stole his passport or something. I thought this was one of Antonioni's worst film. Jack Nicholson seemed fake, bored, angry at the director or frustrated mostly. I mean beyond what was suitable for his character to be angry or bored or frustrated. He seemed to be trying to do his detached "Chinatown" act, but came up flat.

[–] maturity 9 years ago

He was suicidal. Trying to take on someone else's life. Asked on a date book is stupid. He would not really be able to take on that person's life because he wouldn't know the things in their head like phone numbers and addresses or codes that may not be on paper. This is one of Antonioni's weakest movies and Jack Nichilson gives one of his worst performances. He just seemsd angry at the director, unsure what to do, frustrated and uncomfortable by the climate, etc. Some of this might be appropriate for his character, but not all. It seemed more like he was out of his depth, hurt by a language barrier or just bad writing and directing.

[–] MoviemanCin 9 years ago

Yes, both Jack and Maria were very stiff, like they were rehearsing or something.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.

[–] DeepFriedJello 8 years ago

I was going to post this same question if I didn't fine it already asked.
I kept wondering who the passenger was throughout the film.
The film may move slowly, but it keeps you thinking and enjoying the scenery.