DeniClassics Corner: La Dolce Vita (1960)
August 19th 2010 07:26
Category: Drama, What to Rent?
La Dolce Vita by director Federico Fellini is one of the most revered films in movie history. I saw it three times. The first time, it went straight over my head and I thought everyone who praised this film was retarded, perhaps because the narrative was not in consecutive order and not logically conducive to the plot, which it didn't really have, or so I thought. It's a movie where you have to play close attention to the subtext and the action that surrounds the hero. Seeing it again I have to say it is definitely thought provoking, with its baroque images, a Fellini trademark, becoming dusty relics overshadowed and overlooked by a quagmire of human decadence where nothing is sacred anymore and yet despite all the worldly temptations and desires people still long for spiritual meaning in their lives. Needless to say, after my second and third viewing it all made perfect sense and I now agree with the consensus. It
Marcello Mastraoinni
The entire movie can be summed up in the opening prologue. Two helicopters fly over the ruins of Ancient Rome. One helicopter carrying a statue of Christ being transported to the Vatican. The other carrying Marcello, a tabloid gossip columnist, and his crew to cover this sacred event. There is a scene of the statue with its arms outstretched as if administering a blessing - followed closely by Marcello and his crew, however they are soon distracted by a bevvy of beauties sunbathing at a rooftop apartment complex, their chopper makes a u-turn towards the half
Anita Eckberg
Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) left behind a mundane existence to live "the sweet life" (la dolce vita). He covers the lives of celebrities, fading aristocrats, playboys, and religious sightings in a post-war Rome which has metamorphosed into a more modern arena of elaborate degradation. The film is broken down into seven segments with a beginning prologue, an intermezzo, and an epilogue, each of which presents Marcello with spiritual significance, if he chooses to pay attention, which of course he doesn't.
Deep down inside he yearns to be a serious writer, but he's constantly distracted from his goal because the pay of his current job brings in more money. He yearns for meaning and insight in his life but he's engulfed in a life of hedonism, which makes him indifferent to the personal tragedies that should have an impact on him - the suicide attempt of his fiance and the suicide of his intellectual friend, Steiner. But his focus has been so corrupted that he's completely apathetic to anything of moral fiber, in fact morality seems to be a dirty word and
Anouk Aimee
In the course of a week, he attaches himself to a thrill seeking and bored socialite (Anouk Aimee), a brainless actress (Anita Eckberg), and a ludicrous and superficial group of intellectuals, who listen to the sounds of nature on tape and read silly poetry. Marcello knows that this "sweet life" is trivial, shallow, and pointless and his intelligence and insight keeps him on the fringe - he's too smart to be included as one of the gang, he's forever looking in from the outside but like everyone, he goes with the flow, tossed to-and-fro without any anchor. Temptations are not to be overcome but indulged and enjoyed and therefore his secret desire for meaning and direction is powerless to prevail against his surroundings.
And then of course there is the brilliant direction by the man himself, Frederico Fellini. Shot elegantly in black and white, "La Dolce Vita" is chock full of the usual and quite effective Felliniesque imagery and themes, like religion and desire set within his personal vision of a society gone haywire and in this particular instance it's a freak show of circus performers, whether it's at the night clubs, the parties, or the happenings on the street swarmed with onlookers, dotted by the paparazzo. Fellini makes a true to life statement of our fascination with the inane, and the only thing that matters is that we satisfy ourselves with our own personal indulgences.
This movie is beautiful to watch and definitely a cinematic masterpiece. I couldn't find a trailer for this film but I did find a brief review from A.O. Scott of the New York Times that includes some great scenes.
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Comment by ShaunK
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Abstract Magick
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Horrorphile
8-and-a-half is my second favourite movie of all-time. Yet to review it though.