Classics of Italian cinema Fellini
Classics of Italian cinema 2010
Federico Fellini’s films were, and still are in many cases very controversial. Fellini attempts to convey many of his own ideas and attitudes into his works. Nowhere is this more evident than in his attitude towards faith, ritual, and religion. Fellini’s attitude towards faith, ritual and religion has always been critical. However, the way in which he demonstrates this criticism varies. These varying methods of criticism are clearly demonstrated, when one considers his film’s The White Sheik, La dolce vita, and 81/2.
In The White Sheik, Fellini criticises faith, ritual, and religion in an almost comedic fashion, in order to expose their serious shortcomings. For instance, one of the film’s key plot elements is Wanda’s unwarranted faith in the romanticism of her magazines’, such as the White Sheik . There are many scenes in the film where Fellini clearly demonstrates just how absurd Wanda’s faith really is. Firstly, there is the scene in which Wanda pretends to take a bath, in order to go to the office of the Blue Romance. As a result, the bath tub overflows and Ivan is alerted to the fact that Wanda is gone. This scene illustrates the lengths that Wanda is willing to go to, and the strength of her belief in romanticism like the White Sheik. Wanda is willing to risk the potential happiness of her vacation to go and see her beloved White Sheik, whom she has only seen pictures of. Another important scene, which demonstrates the depth of Wanda’s faith, is her conversation with the magazine editor. Here she tells the editor “I go pick it up at the station, then I run home and lock myself in my little room…And then my true life begins…I read all night long1.” This quote clearly demonstrates the scale of her faithful delusion’s in the photo romance. It lets the viewer know that Wanda’s whole life revolves around a simple magazine. All of the above examples are included by Fellini, to help the viewer fully comprehend the extent to which
Federico Fellini’s films were, and still are in many cases very controversial. Fellini attempts to convey many of his own ideas and attitudes into his works. Nowhere is this more evident than in his attitude towards faith, ritual, and religion. Fellini’s attitude towards faith, ritual and religion has always been critical. However, the way in which he demonstrates this criticism varies. These varying methods of criticism are clearly demonstrated, when one considers his film’s The White Sheik, La dolce vita, and 81/2.
In The White Sheik, Fellini criticises faith, ritual, and religion in an almost comedic fashion, in order to expose their serious shortcomings. For instance, one of the film’s key plot elements is Wanda’s unwarranted faith in the romanticism of her magazines’, such as the White Sheik . There are many scenes in the film where Fellini clearly demonstrates just how absurd Wanda’s faith really is. Firstly, there is the scene in which Wanda pretends to take a bath, in order to go to the office of the Blue Romance. As a result, the bath tub overflows and Ivan is alerted to the fact that Wanda is gone. This scene illustrates the lengths that Wanda is willing to go to, and the strength of her belief in romanticism like the White Sheik. Wanda is willing to risk the potential happiness of her vacation to go and see her beloved White Sheik, whom she has only seen pictures of. Another important scene, which demonstrates the depth of Wanda’s faith, is her conversation with the magazine editor. Here she tells the editor “I go pick it up at the station, then I run home and lock myself in my little room…And then my true life begins…I read all night long1.” This quote clearly demonstrates the scale of her faithful delusion’s in the photo romance. It lets the viewer know that Wanda’s whole life revolves around a simple magazine. All of the above examples are included by Fellini, to help the viewer fully comprehend the extent to which