Friday, October 24, 2008

The Beautiful Confusion

cinematographer Gianni di Venanzo
soundtrack by Nino Rota

the film's title refers to the total number of films Fellini had previously directed

Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni)
suffering from director's block
science fiction/autobiographical
artistic and marital difficulties
As Guido struggles half-heartedly to workk on the film, a series of flashbacks and dreams delve into his memories and fantasies; they are frequently interwoven with reality

struggle involved with the creative process, both technical and personal
the problems artists face when expected to deliver something personal and profound with intense public scrutiny
finding true personal happiness in a difficult, fragmented life

Michelangelo Antonioni (la notte)
the alienating effects of modernization

recursive film about the creation of itself as well as a metafilm

Ricordati che é un film comico

many lines of dialogue were written only during post producion, while actors on the set mouthed random lines

Freudian, Christian, sexual and autobiographical images

emphasize images over ideas

Dominic Savio

wife, chic and intellectual who he loves but cannot communicate with
mistress, cheap and tawdry, who offends his taste but inflames his libido

his actors seem to be dancing rather than simply walking
on set Fellini played music during every scene, the music brought a lift and subtle rhythm to their movements

focus on a moving group in the background and track them past the foreground faces them slide in and out of frame
establishes a scene with a master shot, which then becomes a closeup when a character stands up inot frame to greet us

Fellini is a magician who discusses, reveals, explains, and deconstructs his tricks, while still fooling us with them.
He claims he doesn't know what he wants or how to achieve it, and the film proves he knows exactly, and rejoices in his knowledge.

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