8 1/2 ... THE FOREIGN REVIEW

Quotes from Guido:

"What if I'm an uninspired, untalented fake? What if its permanent?"

"Can you start over again? Can you choose something and be faithful to it?"

This autobiographical black and white film is considered to be Italian master film maker Fellini's masterpiece, a dizzying mix of memory, fantasy, and realism, for which he got his 3rd Oscar. During his long career as a film maker, he won 4 Oscars for Best Foreign Film, and a special Oscar for his lifetime achievement in films in 1993, about 7 months before he died. His work has inspired such movie directors as Woody Allen, Paul Mazursky and Bob Fosse.

Fellini's screenplay flows between reality and the fantasy of his dreams and flashbacks, which give hints to what is bothering Guido. At the beginning of each new scene, one has to pay attention to try to figure out if it is Guido's reality or one of his dreams, fantasies, or flashbacks. His past problems with his family, his Catholic church experiences, the trouble he got into by asking the crazy lady who lived on the beach to dance are some of his flashbacks.

Guido's fantasies express how he wishes things were, but often end on a bad note because in reality they would never work. Be sure to see his fantasy about what would be the ultimate set up as the ideal home life, complete with a harem of women, fawning over his every need and wish.

The story begins in a health resort hotel, where a popular film maker, Guido Anselmi (Marcello Masttoianni), has assembled his cast and crew for the planning of his upcoming production shoot of his newest film endeavor, that hasn't exactly been written yet in script form. Guido is suffering from a major writer's block due to a lack of inspiration. He is feeling drained, having no creative energy to make any progress on this project, which is at the point where it is too late to back out of. Because the script isn't complete, he is having trouble casting the film as well. To make matters worse, his producers, his crew, and his cast are clamoring for progress.

His personal life is also a big mess. Both his mistress, Carla (Sandra Milo) and his wife, Luisa (Anouk Aimée), are there as well, and both are unhappy with him. His wife has found out about his mistress and is furious about his infidelity. His self-centered mistress wants more of his attention.

With all this mounting pressure on him, he slips into periodic flashbacks to his past when things in his reality trigger a memory, or he escapes into one of his private fantasies. His flashbacks and fantasies educate the audience to the distant relationship he had with his father and various women in Guido's life that he didn't quite know how to love, trying to piece together the tatters of his life. His low point is when he drives under the table when faced by the media who come to a press conference where he was supposed to explain his new project, at the expensive spaceship set just built.

As a result of thinking about his dreams, fantasies and flashbacks, after his disasterous media interview, he has an epiphany about himself that gives him a sudden joy, which make him feel strengthened and renewed. He then realizes that the most important thing in his life is very simple; his love and acceptance of his wife, a truly freeing realization. This inspires a reconciliation with her and a new film script idea which combines a circus atmosphere, all the people thus seen in this story, with the space ship set.

The cast of actors and actresses does a terrific job bringing Felini's fabulously unique film to life.

Marcello Masttoianni gives his most memorable performance in his career in his portrayal of Guido Anselm, a film maker who is stymied in his work because of inner conflicts caused by his past and his current personal life.

Sandra Milo - Gives an interesting performance as Guido's mistress, who is a bit odd to say the least.

Anouk Aimee - Gives a strong performance as Guido's hurt and angry wife who discovers Guido has a mistress when Carla arrives at the hotel.

Fellini's 8 1/2 is unrated, but I would give it a PG-13.

If you enjoyed 8 1/2, you may like ANNIE HALL, LA DOLCE VITA, and STEALING BEAUTY.

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