8 1/2

[Lord Mhoram]

What do we think of 8½? It's definitely Fellini's masterpiece. It's not just a dense, definitive and complex work about director's block, nor just an autobiographical film, with recursive dream sequences and childhood memories, blurring the distinction between reality and fantasy. It's a beautiful examination of a man's response to social pressures -- from financial concerns, studios, producers, film critics; doctors; friends and family; religion; and especially women. It's of course the story of Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), a well-known and extremely well-dressed film director, based on Fellini himself, who is struggling to produce a new work, all the while trying to balance his concubine and his wife, and all the pressures exerted on him by society as he tries to break free and create something artistically meaningful. The movie is also technically beautiful, as can be seen from the bizarre opening dream sequence. The BFI Top Ten Films, which ranks it at number 9 of all time, describes it thus:

Wonderfully freefloating, gleefully confusing reality and fantasy, 8 1/2 provides a ringside seat into the ever active imaginative life of its director protagonist Guido, played by Fellini's on-screen alter-ego Marcello Mastroianni. The definitive film about film-making - as much about the agonies of the creative process as the ecstasies - it's no wonder the movie is so popular with directors.

If you want to see one of the greats, I highly recommend this for those who haven't seen it.

[Worm of Despite]

Thanks Mhoram. Sounds like a highly underrated, arty piece. I'll be glad to pick this one up, wherever I find it...

[Usivius]

not for the faint at heart, or for those with ADD... this is a masterpiece of one man's talent and soul placed on film -- in a way, it reminds me od Kurosawa's "Dreams" ... it's not overly linear, but allow yourself to be exposed to another person's life in that way, and it is a wonderful viewing experience.