Movie: "8 1/2" (1959)

[Bob Pr.]

"8 1/2" (1959) B&W, 138', (unrated). Genres: drama, fantasy. Director:
Federico Fellini. Stars: Mastriano, Anouk Aimee, Claudia Cardinale.
IMDb: 198 of alltime best 250 films ever; 8.5 of 10 stars: 8½ (1963) - IMDb
2 Oscars: Best Foreign Language Film; Best Costume design (nom'd for 4)
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% of critics rate it "ripe" 8 1/2 - Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert: 4 of 4 stars; it's one of his "Great Movies" 8 1/2 / Eight and a Half :: rogerebert.com :: Great Movies
Plot: Fellini, the film director ("Giorgio" played by Mastriano), had recently
acclaimed films & now has the schedule and financing for his next film but
suddenly--has completely lost all his inspiration. Many potential actors/
actresses, screen writers, producers, etc., keep bugging him about when
will production start?, will they have a role? etc. He doesn't know and keeps
putting them off, attempting to appear suave. When Fellini found himself in
this position, he made this film about it as his means of recovery. (Fellini
had made 7 full length and one short film before this; hence this title.)

"8 1/2" does NOT have a typical narrative. Instead his apparent reality
constantly intermixes with his dreams, memories, fantasies & metaphors. (Re:
metaphors, the film opens with a man trapped within a car, failing to break out;
then a man flying, soaring high up in the air--then suddenly falling to his death;
both are metaphors for what Fellini was experiencing: trapped & unable to
escape, attaining great heights then falling.) No 2 film critics (or viewers) will
take away the same message (it's an absolute Rorschach test in that sense).
It's a film most cognoscenti will love but will need to see it at least 2X-?X? to
begin to feel they understand it. (A bit like a Bergman film but in a much diff-
erent key and style.)

We viewed this at our monthly "Great Films @ the Cathedral" series and I
didn't understand it but read reviews and saw it again last night. Still don't
fully get it BUT, if you accept it as a quilt, a collage of reality, memories,
dreams, mistresses & wives, metaphors, that's reasonably close. Some say
Jungian anima and animus archetypes are present in this film--I don't know.
BUT the movie MUST be VERY relevant and meaningful to those connected
with the film industry since many in that field rate it extremely high.

My rating: 6 of 10 stars on a 1st viewing, 7 of 10 after a 2nd (maybe reaching
10 of 10 if you're inclined to research it and see it multiple times?)