Direction of Federico Fellini

Federico Fellini is one of the most influential directors of all time. An Italian filmmaker, his films blend a dreaming fantasy and unusual images into a reality. They contain very surreal images with often sexual, political, and nostalgic themes, which often relate to his own memories from childhood.

In one of his most important films, 8 1/2, a semi autobiographical film depicts a directors struggle with creativity. The film often contains links to his own childhood, for example several sequences where it is actual events that occurred in his youth.

Marcello Mastroianni was Fellini's actor for many of his films, which included 8 1/2 and La dolce vita. In 8 1/2 Mastroianni played the role of director who had writers block. The introductory scene of the film is one of the most powerful, as it completely summarizes the change from creativity in a closed asphyxiated environment to a ultimately free and flying space. At first the scene can be very confusing, but Fellini's almost psychotic imagery can be synthesized as genius. The film continues as Mastroianni struggles to find meaning in the film he is building up to be a masterpiece (something he doesn't think can nearly be classified). Everybody is believing in him as it will be, and he just cannot live up to the expectations. Fellini's message here is simple, and 8 1/2 becomes one of the best films about film that has ever been made.