La Dolce Vita (1960)

To describe the "plot" of Federico Fellini's masterpiece LA DOLCE VITA as a series of anecdotes in the life of a tabloid journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) does it an injustice. One of the landmark films in cinema history, it marked a transition for Fellini from his modest "realistic" films like LA STRADA and NIGHTS OF CABIRIA to a more ambitious non-linear, even extravagant, style of film making. Many of Fellini's admirers prefer CABIRIA, LA STRADA or even his later AMARCORD and it's understandable. There's an underlying sentiment in those films which make it easier to digest. It doesn't exist in nor has a place in the bleak universe of LA DOLCE VITA which focuses on sterile artists and intellectuals, aimless bourgeoisie and an increasingly soulless society. It's that rare film that justifies its lengthy running time (3 hours) yet there's not a bit of padding to it. The wide screen TotalScope (Fellini's first in the wide screen format) images by Otello Martelli is among the greatest B&W cinematography I've seen and praise must be given to Nino Rota's superb score. I've seen LA DOLCE VITA several times before and each time I'm near astonished at the depth and breadth of it. To discuss it properly requires more space than I have here. The amazing cast includes Anouk Aimee, Anita Ekberg, Yvonne Furneaux, Magali Noel, Nadia Gray, Alain Cuny, Jacques Sernas, Lex Barker, Annibale Ninchi, Audrey McDonald and Nico.