Review of La Dolce Vita (1960) by Matthew A — 29 Aug 2008
This was one of the first "foreign films" I'd ever watched (back in Bobst Library in '88). As a result, this film had a hand in creating the lens through which I view other movies. Between the Anita Ekberg scene and the helpless, beached, gigantic fish, I had never seen anything like this.
All of the images have stayed with me all of these years. After seeing it again, with a lot of water under the bridge, I was struck by how angry the film is, especially in contrast with "La Strada" and "Nights of Cabiria".
Marcello is effectivley knocked around by the cynicism and nihilism of the modern condition, a state of being he cannot escape it seems. Fellini isn't presenting an answers. It's as if we've been allowed to peer into his diary.
His visions are quirky and original but offer no one instruction. Fellini seems like he's as lost as Marcello, yet his disorientation creates indelible pictures.
This review of La Dolce Vita (1960) was written by Matthew A on 29 Aug 2008.
La Dolce Vita has generally received very positive reviews.
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