La Dolce Vita

I really find this film to be fascinating every time I watch it. I studied this film last semester in Milan, Italy where I studied abroad. It was interesting to hear the italian perspective of the film that my professor brought to the table mixed with us (the students) american view points. We studied Fellini quite a bit and read a book called "The Cinema of Federico Fellini"which was a very interesting break down of Fellini's works and had awesome explanations of the reasoning behind his ideas and unique works. One thing that definitely sticks in my mind from this is the influence Picasso had on Fellini's ideas, Fellini studied Picasso's sketches and used those to base his characters especially, Sylvia in "La Dolce Vita".

Watching the film again in class, here really was a slightly different experience because I noticed things the second time that I missed out on the first time. I think part of it may have been because I now recognize more of the Italian words in the film and spent less time reading and more time viewing the film which does allow for a slightly deeper look in to the events taking place. What I loved about the film was the experimental story telling that Fellini uses. He introduces Marcello through his interactions with other characters in the film. What kind of bugged me about the film was that there is no real climax, or change. It's more of just a continuous story that is taking place.

The article was very interesting to me because it talked about the religious properties of the movie and the reaction it stirred through out the italian world and the film world. Many Italians were very offended by the film. In Italy my class discussed this in depth. We talked about other films that depicted this situation such as "Divorce Italian Style", in that film the characters plan on seeing "La Dolce Vita". The men were discussing the rumors of what the film was about many people called it a "porno" and many women were not happy about their husbands watching this movie. The religious aspects of the film are also very interesting. We have that opening scene with Jesus "flying" above the city. I don't believe Fellini was anti-religious in doing this, I think he's making a statement to the audience. In a way he is saying there doesn't have to be just one way of living, we can enjoy ourselves in other ways and have fun in a more carefree way, he goes for shock value not for insults.

Last year, last week, last....doesn't matter it happened?

This film to me was beautifully shot. It has images that are absolutely terrifying yet gorgeous. However, this film made my brain absolutely hurt at some points. After a little while I was like "what is going on" then I would feel like ok, I am getting this I understand and then once again something completely irrelevant would happen and the cycle of my confusion would start all over again. The entire thing definitely seemed dream-like, which is supported by the article "Philosophical Films: Last Year at Marienbad". I had another take on it though, I also think this film was very much like a twisted fairy tale. "A" loses her shoe, or her heel breaks and "X" comes to the rescue helping her walk and escorting her back. They live in an "alice in wonderland" type of world that they can't escape. Other reasons I compare this film to a fairy tale are, "X" thinks he's a the hero, prince charming saving "A" from "M". I also aside from that theory believe that maybe "X" is another example of a character obsessed. Maybe he's just one of those people that sees a girl that he's never met or talked to and becomes so wrapped up in her that he thinks he knows her and has been with her and loves her and that she loves him back. As creepy as this theory is, he is pretty creepy and it makes sense to me. I feel like he's so convinced that he knows "A" that he confuses her to the point of her asking herself "do I really know him, have we met before" Her and her "husbands" marriage seems to be on the rocks, with him being questionable of her and the "shooting" scene, maybe she has had affairs in the past that she has put behind her or made herself forget. The french gardens are very symbolic to the people of this film. I believe one line is something along the lines of "here the gardens are rocks, stone, cement. The people are very similar their personalities are empty and at times they don't even speak or move, they are like the very statues in the gardens that they are trapped by. A memorable quote from the film is "you're like a shadow, yet you want me to come closer" I believe "A" says this to "X". This quote pretty much sums up their relationship. He follows her like a shadow.....(stalker) and he wants her to be with him, to love him to go away with him...(hello you're freaking her out). I also think this quote summarizes the movie in a way. I feel like it kind of is saying, this world is like a shadow that won't disappear when you're watching it, yet it tries to draw the audience in deeper, this in turn personally confused me to the point of being pulled away from it a little, if that makes sense...or maybe I'm just over thinking this. Sorry if this was really confusing but I guess that sums up my feelings towards the whole thing.