Cinema
8½
Federico Fellini · 1963
Synopsis
Guido Anselmi, a renowned filmmaker, has withdrawn to a luxurious spa town to recover, even though he is due to shoot a science-fiction film and no longer knows what to do with it. Producer, actors, collaborators and journalists press him with questions; his married life becomes complicated. Paralysed, he takes refuge in his childhood memories, his dreams and his fantasies, which gradually blend with the present.
Context
The title counts the films of its author: his feature films counted as one, his episodes of omnibus films and his co-directed film as a half. The screenplay is by Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli and Brunello Rondi; the working title was “La bella confusione”. During the shoot, Fellini had fixed near the camera a note reminding everyone that it was a comedy. Marcello Mastroianni plays Guido, with Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée and Sandra Milo; the music, made of circus marches and fanfares, is by Nino Rota.
Who it is for
Two hours eighteen minutes, in Italian and in black and white; present, memories and dreams follow one another without transition.
Prizes and reception
Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and Oscar for Best Costume Design; Grand Prize at the Moscow festival.
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