I don’t think 8 1/2 is a good starting point, a certain familiarity with Fellini’s thematic and stylistic concerns makes one appreciate that one much more, I would also recommend to watch La dolce vita prior to 8 1/2. I vitelloni is a great early work which gives a good introduction to the playfulness and nostalghia of Fellini’s cinema, but La strada and Nights of Cabiria with the post-neorealist concerns that mark some kind of counterpoint to his later films about the high society would be equally good to begin with.
I don’t like Fellini but i love Nights of Cabiria, maybe you should start with that movie.
I Vitelloni, Cabiria, La strada. overall, are the “easiest” to watch.
I also am not a fan of Fellini. I did enjoy I Vitelloni very much though. It has many of Fellini’s recurring themes of small town life and fame, but is minus his ornate style. If you like that and want to see his more famous films, then I follow it up with La Dolce Vita. One of his most famous, but not really all that complex.
On a side note, his short film “Toby Dammit”, part of The Spirits of the Dead" omnibus is essential if you’re a horror fan.
Start at the beginning with “The White Shiek” then move on to “La Strada” and “Nioghts of Cabriria” Take a break and then plunge drectly into “La Dolce Vita.” Savor it carefully (ie. look at it seveeral times) before moving on to “* 1/2”
After that check back in here again.
8 1/2 really threw me for a loop when I first saw it and I would agree with Apursansar that it isn’t a good starting point.
I started with either Fellini Satyricon or Amarcord I can’t remember which but I like both of them. Satyricon isn’t very popular here but the beloved Amarcord is and I think that is a nice place to really begin.
I’d say either La Strada or Nights of Cabiria. Starting with La Dolce Vita things arguably get more difficult. Strada and Cabiria are warm and inviting.
Watch La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2 and La Strada, realise how overrated he is, then move on.
Or alternatively:
Watch Rome, Open City and Paisan, see how promising he was as a Neo-Realist unit director, then mourn the self-obsession that plagued his solo career.
I agree with IMDBEN, those two great film make me begin to like Fellini, its so different from other movie i saw in western movie, it make me know what art film is about when dream and reality mix together in a well balance way.
I started with 8 1/2 and fell asleep (in Fellini’s defense, I do fall asleep during movies somewhat regularly). It’s definitely a good idea to wait until you are adjusted to his style before watching that one. I instantly loved Nights of Cabiria.
maybe it depends on age and circumstances than chronological order?.i don’t like Fellini at first sight, but it dig more and more to my consciousness about what art film is about, dream and reality not far from each oteher. my favorite film still 81/2,
The first Fellini film that I’ve watched was “Orchestra Rehearsal”, one of his last films, when I wasn’t that much interested in art films, and I liked it: Later I saw “E La Nave Va”, and I thought it was amazing. When I really started to like films as an art form, Fellini became one of my favorites. However I’ve recently watched “I Vitelloni” for the fist time and didn’t like it specially, actually I found it boring: It’s very relative where is the best place to start, I think: I like to start with films that seem to be more interesting to me, personally.
Roma
or
Clowns
something deeply personal
I agree with Ehrenstein, The White Shiek is the one to begin with.
Ii seems there is a fair bit of love for Nights of Cabiria (1957) and I would support the view that this is a good place to start. Its got a good solid story and a fantastic lead actor in Giulietta Masina. Its definitely my favourite Fellini movie. But once you’ve clocked it check out some of his earlier films, like La Strada (1954), or more specifically I Vitelloni (1953), which is a great study of a group of friends in a small Italian town after the war. It is an insight into some of the motifs Fellini would revisit throughout his directorial career.
Then, as David suggested earlier, plunge into La Dolce Vita (1960) and 8 1/2 (1963). However, for my money, one of his best is Amarcord (1973) where Fellini revisits some of the kind of film making he was creating in the 1950s, mixing it up with some of the more abstract ideas he became known for throughout the sixties. If you want something really “out there” check out Fellini Satyricon (1969) – beautiful, yet grotesque. Inconsistent, yet powerful. Best saved for last.
Nights of Cabiria , I Vitelloni , La Strada, The White Shiek, Amarcord , then 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita.
“mourn the self-obsession that plagued his solo career”
Or rejoice it, rather.
amarcord – i vitelloni – roma – then all the rest
I agree with Toby Dammit, then you should try Giulietta Degli Spiriti, Casanova and La Città Delle Donne for more fantasy and vivid colors. I also agree on the fact that 8 1/2 is definitely NOT a good starting point, you need to be familiar with his cinema before you watch this one.
Watch “La Dolce Vita” over and over again.
8 1/2 is the definitive Fellini film but his Satyricon is a must see in my book.
Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I have a plan of attack now ;)
“8 1/2 is the definitive Fellini film but his Satyricon is a must see in my book.”
Satyricon is very bizarre. I remember watching it one night when I was really sleepy, and waking up in the morning with vague memories of having dreamed gigantic women chasing me.)
I need to see it again, I guess
@freddie
“vague memories of having dreamed gigantic women chasing me”
Fellini, from his Jungian analysis, kept a record of his dreams (he was an artist of some aptitude) . Dreams are a pure product of the subconscious, the font of art, so I would think he would understand your reaction to his film.
Fellini was, he admitted, prevented from a closer adaption of the original first century novel by Patronius by his Catholic upbringing. You will find the original wickedly funny and I recommend the translation by Allison as the best.
link
Marsyas,
Thanks for the link. Very interesting.
Maximilian Bercovicz
I have a confession: I’ve never seen a Fellini film.
But I really want to. I know Fellini’s career has spanned about 40 years, so I’m not really sure where to start… I read in a different thread that 8½ is a good starting point, but I thought it would make sense to start with some of his early works, like The White Sheik and I vitelloni.
I’d love to hear what you guys think.