Review of I Vitelloni (1953) by Luca L — 10 Mar 2007
The perpetually unemployed? The eternal students? The men who didn't want to grow up? So what is the best translation for this title? The guys who wanted to drink, smoke, and shoot pool forever? This is still what I would call early Fellini.
Ostensibly autobiographical, this is defintiely a slice-of-life movie shot in a realistic style. With Moraldo posed as Fellini, however, we are given a kind of dark fairytale of men moving quickly into middle-age who have lived the "dream" of never having to grow up, to accept responsibility, or to make something of their lives.
And Peter Pan it is not; in a way it is almost tragic. If we waste too much of our lives, we obviously have less time to "make our mark." Moraldo-Fellini finally chooses to step off the merry-go-round and strike out to make his mark.
A bittersweet meditation on the reasons why youth sometimes truly may be wasted on the young.
This review of I Vitelloni (1953) was written by Luca L on 10 Mar 2007.
I Vitelloni has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
