Review of Amarcord (1973) by Al M — 06 Jan 2009
It's hard to conbey what a masterpiece Amarcord is in words. It transports the viewer to another world, a world in which dreams and reality blend into a seemless and beautifully bawdy whole. While Titta is the ostensible protagonist, the film really only features one character: the town.
The people merely act the charmingly flawed characitures that fill the town with life, energy, and love: the hooliganish children, the lusty grandpa, the town nymphomaniac, the town hottie, etc. What disrupts this seemingly harmonious setting is the fact that Fellini's film is set during Italy's fascist period, and, indeed, Fellini satirizes both catholicism and fascism by displaying the pomposity and beaucratic system of rules that each forces upon its participants.
Despite the fascist backdrop, Fellini fills his film with tender images (although always wryly laced with bawdiness) such as the town's spring festival, the insane outbreak of a beloved uncle, the largest snowfall in town history, a funeral, a wedding, sickness, love and desire, confession, etc.
A film that must be seen to be understood...a film that displays its love for humanity while simultaneously scewering all it is that makes us human.
This review of Amarcord (1973) was written by Al M on 06 Jan 2009.
Amarcord has generally received very positive reviews.
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