8 1/2

Federico Fellini is generally known as one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time. However, at this point I have only seen one of his films, La Dolce Vita, thus I felt the need to see his other famous film, 8 1/2 (1963). The Criterion edition has lots of extras: screen-specific audio essay featuring commentary by film critic and Fellini friend Gideon Bachmann and NYU Professor of Film Antonio Monda, introduction from director Terry Gilliam, a 22 page booklet featuring essays by Fellini, Fellini collaborator and critic Tullio Kezich, and film professor and author Alexander Sensonske. And on Disk Two: Fellini A Director’s Notebook, a 52 minute film by Fellini, Nino Rota: Between Cinema and Concert, a 48 minute documentary about the maestro behind the music of Fellini’s films, interviews with actress Sandra Milo, director Lina Wertmuller, cinematographer Vittrio Storano who discussed the art of Gianni di Venanzo, rare photographs and gallery of behind-the-scenes and production. As to be expected, the are some amazing cinematic images in the film like the opening where Marcello Mastroianni escapes from his smoking car trapped in traffic and rises above the city only to be pulled down by his obligations to completing a film. All of the flash back scenes of the director’s childhood are entertaining, as was the city of women dream sequence. It is interesting how Fellini incorporates things about his life and counteracts perceived criticism in a clever meta-narrative way with a writer criticizing the director’s script in the film. The last hour in particular was enchanting and entertaining. It is easy to see why this is considered one of the greatest films of all time due to its thematic ideas and inventive visual images. It is an important and entertaining film, so I expect to track down more of the director’s major films in the future.

Comments

[Ted]

Brilliant film.

Asa nisi masa.