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DVD edition of Fellini’s 8 1/2 casts its spell
One of the great cinematic masterpieces of the 20th century, Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 (Otto e Mezzo), has at long last been released on DVD in a beautifully realized special edition.
Although the film is layered with several parallels to Fellini’s own life, 8 1/2 is better read as self-referential than clinically autobiographical (the title refers to the number of films that Fellini had completed prior to this one). Marcello Mastroianni stars as Guido Anselmi, a filmmaker who is suffocating from expectations in both his personal life and his work. He is trapped in his own circus – relentlessly juggling, balancing and performing for his wife, lover and colleagues. Guido suffers from confused ideas, vivid memories and impossible questions as he searches for meaning in the symbols of his imagination.
The skeleton of this film is its production design – sets are composed of exceptionally clean lines that complement the haziness of time and place, and striking contrasts shed light on the protagonist, who is constantly veiled by the shadows of his thoughts.
Reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann’s work with Hitchcock, composer Nino Rota created perfection with the score of 8 1/2, as well as many other Fellini films. Gorgeous themes are revisited and reinvented throughout, conjuring the spectacle of Fellini’s vision. An interesting addition to this DVD is the documentary Between Cinema and Concert, which explores Rota’s work in depth.
While this film in particular is greater than the sum of its parts, what leads 8 1/2 to success is the commitment, on a grand scale, of the actors involved. Mastroianni, much like Anthony Quinn in La Strada, is the ringmaster who commands the screen, and all the other characters upon it. Fortunately those being commanded are equally capable of captivating an audience. While our main character is a man, the film, and Fellini for that matter, would be nothing without the women. Anouk Aimée as the lovely and fed-up wife and Sandra Milo as the mistress, Carla, escort Guido through his life and play major roles in his dreams, fantasies and nightmares.
This double-disc set includes so many extras and insights into Fellini’s work that it makes this edition a must-have for any collector or film enthusiast. With such a dense palette to spring from, Criterion has assembled a range of features that balance and contribute to the original work of art they discuss. Three captivating interviews grace this DVD and provide something for every interest: the observant Vittorio Storaro – a legend in his own right – discusses 8 1/2 cinematographer Gianni di Vananza’s unconventional technique; actress Sandra Milo, whose role in 8 1/2 was a prophetic one, shares her personal and impassioned memories; and Lina Wertmüller muses on her experience working on 8 1/2, which began her career in filmmaking.
Also included is the one-hour documentary Fellini: A Director’s Notebook, in which Fellini takes his audience through fragments of his creative process. Additionally, film critic Gideon Bachmann and film professor Antonio Monda offer engaging commentaries and filmmaker Terry Gilliam provides an extraordinarily fun introduction to this famous film about filmmaking.
8 1/2 is a cabal that overflows with images so striking and so beautiful they will be forever etched in your memory – even when it's confusing, trust its magic. |
