Fellini's La Dolce Vita Review

1.) It is said that this film abandons traditional modes of narrative/plot, and conventional notions of characters development. Give exaples from the film to support or oppose

I do believe this to a certain degree but still feel like throughout the entire film there was little to no narration at all, and the plot jumps from place to place. Lke in the opening scene where there is a large Jesus statue hanging from a helicopter and there flying from place to place allowing people to be in "Awe" at it. Fellini does a brilliant job developing Marcello's sense of stability and sexual subduction. He has almost a James Bond feel to him, this was all put together very well.

2.) What is the underlying theme or themes of this film?

To me, the main notion or theme of this film is that everything we do is for a reason or to benefit someone in someway. The title "La Dolce Vida" or the "Sweet Life" is a minor configuration of the movies exstensive meaning. The freedom most characters show, coming and going at will, entering almost any desirable destination, this film truley captures what we would consider a sweet or lavish life, with much excessability.

3.) Choose one scene in the film that you feel is an essential moment, or a turning point. Describe the visual elements and cinematic style if you can.

I feel that the scene when Sylvia or Anita Ekinburg was in the Trevii Fountian in Marcello's dream sequence was a huge turning point in the movie and a great scene as well. Fellini shows the audiance this key turning point which allows Marcello to verify what parts of life are real and are not from here on. This visual element of Sylvia at the fountain is known as "Juxtaposition", Fellini is famous for this lovely comparison of a lovely attractive woman against  flawless beautiful backdrop. The cinematic style is that of a twist, there are some scenes that capture a sence of Neorealism but the dream sequences and ellucive landscapes allow a real creative outlook on the film.


Bondanella on Fellini 

La Dolce Vita means the Sweet Life. It refers to the exstensive accesablilty the characters have in the film to go and do what they want. The condition of Italy at the time was poor, right after the World War things were in rough shape. Italy was a decaying city.

Bondanella compares Fellini to Picaso because they are both talented artists, and view their work as art and not take it to serious or literal like an average job. They extract from within. They share the artistic vision of roman.

The importance of the term paparazzi in the film is huge. This term first came up in this film and established an exstensive vocabulary for the term now. It gave this movie a fast paced theme and even added to the effect of illusiveness or that the life these characters are living are that of fame or surreal like.

The plot of the film is very chaotic and all over the place. Mostly in Italy and Rome itself. This allows for the surrealism of Italy magnificant landscapes and romantic vistas to really show through in this film. Fellini knew all of these minor details all help everything come together.

Marcello is his own man, and will be reguardless of any mans requests. It is too late for him to change into anything he already isnt already. He is a man of distress, adventure, sex appeal and in life for the over all chase and exhilleration. His sexuality is strongly depicted through the beauty of Sylvia. And the entire movie was built off of Marcello's intellectual persuits.