1966 film scene almost identical to Trump assassination attempt

Coincidences and coincidences. A couple of weeks ago I noted to myself the bizarre coincidences that can occur almost back-to-back. I killed a creepy crawly in my kitchen only to read later that day on social media how the scary critters can be beneficial. Then, on a Montreal Facebook group, I see a photo of the famed Montreal Outremont Theatre, while earlier that day I had thought of a mild negative encounter I at one time had there. And yesterday, one day after watching a movie with a similar theme, there was an assassination attempt on US President Donald Trump’s life. The coincidence? The alleged shooter's gun was exposed from foliage on the side of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. This was almost the identical location of the shooter in Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film Blow-Up (photo). In the film, a London fashion photographer played by David Hemmings happens upon a scene in a park where two people (one being a woman played by Vanessa Redgrave) are cavorting. The movie is part of The Criterion Channel’s current Photographer's Gaze series where photography plays a central role in a movie's plot. Hemmings’s character “Thomas” starts clicking away at the lovers unbeknownst to them. Later in his studio, he develops the negatives only to see something strange on one side of London’s Maryon Park (above). It’s someone pointing a gun out of the bushes, almost identically as the US Secret Service saw a gun pointing at Trump. “A Secret Service agent spotted the suspect as he stuck the barrel of his rifle through the fence on the outskirts of the golf course,” a press report said. This has now given me an excuse to write about Blow-Up, a great film which won Cannes’ Palme d’Or. There is much to like about this psychological drama and murder mystery: the role of the camera and voyeurism, shots of London during the height of its Swinging Sixties era, demure and understated Hayley Mills also at the peak of her career, a reminder of how beautiful Vanessa Redgrave was in her youth. And some minor delights. The score was by jazz great “Herbert” Hancock not “Herbie” (the same person). Cult actress Jane Birkin had a role as a wannabe model teen. Hemmings was no stranger to the era’s rock ’n roll world and was a musician himself.  One scene at London’s Ricky-Tick Club – which played host to many of the great British bands including the Rolling Stones, Who and Pink Floyd – has a mockup with The Yardbirds playing their signature “Stroll On.” Jeff Beck starts bashing his guitar into a malfunctioning amp, stomps on it and throws pieces of the guitar into a delirious crowd. All very fun. But what a premonition to what would take place the next day in West Palm Beach, Florida.