Fellini’s magnum opus 8½ (or otte e mezzo) is the quintessential film about film making. Though much of this 1960s Italian masterpiece is dreamlike and abstract, there are a variety of real world themes at work that do not all necessarily contribute to the film’s central goal. As I grow older and have seen the film more and more, I begin to empathize with one of these themes in particular.
Guido Anselmi, a fictional Italian film director, has become overwhelmed by the entertainment culture he has placed himself in; to the point where he often feels either imprisoned or almost nihilistic. He usually offers lies and apathy toward his job, his colleagues and peers, and even his wife. Most often, he lives in a sort of dreamland: at one moment he may fantasize about complete dictatorship over his social environment, while at another he may long for the simplicity and abandon of his lost childhood.
It is the latter of these two fantasies that viewers, who have come to find themselves in a rigid 9 to 5 lifestyle, may identify with. After having introduced the film to my significant other last evening, I found myself entranced by the memories of Guido’s childhood; escaping to the forbidden beach to visit the strange, seductive Saraghina, and staying up past bedtime, telling secrets in the dark with his sister (the “Asa Nisi Masa” scene). It’s not his preoccupation with infidelity that moves me, but rather his rejection of structure and discipline that I admire.
In the end, Guido is a man who wants so much to be in love, yet unable to make or keep the promises that come with maturity. It’s not that he prides himself on self-indulgence or rebellion, but just that he’s afraid of figuring out what sort of person he is supposed to be. To some this makes him seem immature, while others label him a liar and a cheat. However, I don’t believe that’s the kind of character Fellini was trying to create.
Note: the above image is a photograph taken of Fellini on-set during the infamous “harem scene”
Tags: 1960s, favorite films, fellini, foreign film, italy, movies
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