The film explores themes of perception, reality, and the unreliability of truth. Thomas, initially detached and absorbed in his glamorous yet superficial lifestyle, becomes increasingly disoriented as he tries to make sense of what he has witnessed. Antonioni masterfully blurs the line between what is real and what is imagined, leaving both the protagonist and the audience questioning the nature of reality. The famous final scene, featuring an imaginary tennis match, reinforces the film’s central idea that reality is shaped by perception.

Visually, Blow-Up is a striking representation of 1960s London, capturing the era’s fashion, art, and counterculture. Antonioni’s use of color, composition, and silence enhances the film’s dreamlike atmosphere. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing tension to build as Thomas’s search for the truth becomes more abstract and elusive. The film’s jazz-infused score by Herbie Hancock further adds to its stylish and enigmatic tone.

Blow-Up was a critical and commercial success, winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It remains one of Antonioni’s most influential works, inspiring countless films that explore the themes of perception and reality, including The Conversation (1974) and Blow Out (1981).