Federico Fellini
Italy, 1963
A constant in the filmmaking canon, 8 1/2 is considered to be the most famous of Italian films. This is due in part to the director, Fellini, an auteur of Italian culture and purveyor of cinematic storytelling who captured the complexities of Italy post World War Two. The other factor is the films autobiographical nature (see Vertigo and Adaptation) which is even recognized in the title (8 1/2 is the number of films Fellini had made including this film and a short).
8 1/2 tends to be the cinematographic segue way for most film students. While it contains complex shots, splintered story telling, and action based subtext, unlike it's American counterparts at the time, it is still much more approachable and understandable when compared to a Godard or Bergman epic. To put it bluntly, 8 1/2 is the entry level version of Film as Art, which is why it makes the top of almost every cinephiles list.
The plot, as mentioned above, is quite biographical. Marcello Mastroianni's character, Anselmi, is in a deep creative rut since his last successful film. While he vacations to brainstorm his next film, he is plagued by producers, want to be actresses, his mistress, and his wife. He ultimately finds solace in his memories and his fantasies. The cast includes Mastroianni, Fellini's usual actor to portray himself as well as Anouk Aimee, Claudia Cardinale, and Sandra Milo. The actors are flawless in their portrayal of the real as well as the imaginary.
8 1/2 is most definitely worth a watch. Whether you are a veteran of cinematic study or a wanna be film learner, 8 1/2 is always entertaining and gives you something new.
Italy, 1963
A constant in the filmmaking canon, 8 1/2 is considered to be the most famous of Italian films. This is due in part to the director, Fellini, an auteur of Italian culture and purveyor of cinematic storytelling who captured the complexities of Italy post World War Two. The other factor is the films autobiographical nature (see Vertigo and Adaptation) which is even recognized in the title (8 1/2 is the number of films Fellini had made including this film and a short).
8 1/2 tends to be the cinematographic segue way for most film students. While it contains complex shots, splintered story telling, and action based subtext, unlike it's American counterparts at the time, it is still much more approachable and understandable when compared to a Godard or Bergman epic. To put it bluntly, 8 1/2 is the entry level version of Film as Art, which is why it makes the top of almost every cinephiles list.
The plot, as mentioned above, is quite biographical. Marcello Mastroianni's character, Anselmi, is in a deep creative rut since his last successful film. While he vacations to brainstorm his next film, he is plagued by producers, want to be actresses, his mistress, and his wife. He ultimately finds solace in his memories and his fantasies. The cast includes Mastroianni, Fellini's usual actor to portray himself as well as Anouk Aimee, Claudia Cardinale, and Sandra Milo. The actors are flawless in their portrayal of the real as well as the imaginary.
8 1/2 is most definitely worth a watch. Whether you are a veteran of cinematic study or a wanna be film learner, 8 1/2 is always entertaining and gives you something new.