A director, constantly harassed and
annoyed by all around him, struggles to make his new film, retreating into his
memories and fantasies.
8 ½ is Italian auteur Federico Fellini’s
masterpiece (and my favorite of his great films – which include: La Strada, Nights of Cabiria,
La Dolce Vita,
and Amarcord).
Fellini worked with excellent composer Nino Rota (who
also scored The
Godfather and The
Leopard), cinematographer Gianni Di Venanzo,
and frequent collaborator production designer Piero Gherardi
(who won an Oscar for costume design).
Marcello
Mastroianni (who often worked with Fellini) stars in the film, with an
ensemble of beautiful woman, including: Claudia Cardinale,
Anouk Aimee,
Sandra Milo,
and Barbara
Steele.
The thing that really makes 8 ½ a
standout film for me is its artistry. It is an aesthetically ambitious film as
Guido Anselmi navigates between reality and his imagination, and a film that is
often visually striking. I also feel draw to it in a way because it is a film
about filmmaking, specifically directing (which nostalgically reminds me of my
frantic days as a film student running around trying to make our little films).
I am not especially well versed in Italian cinema, but 8 ½ is probably my
favorite (with Bicycle
Thieves, Nights of Cabiria, The Leopard, A Fistful of
Dollars, The
Battle of Algiers, Once
Upon a Time in the West, and Life
Is Beautiful up there at the top too). 8 ½ is a must-see for fans of
Italian cinema, Federico Fellini, or wonderful cinema in general.
Trailer: Here
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