A collague of dream sequences and reality, Fellini’s 8 ½ is a majestic piece of cinematic art. Particularly, I would like to focus on the ending, so if you haven’t seen it and do not want it to be spoiled for you, don’t read further.
Guido after all his misleadings and unfocused floudering in making his film is finally forced to face the demons and set a date for filming. At the beginnning of the film, we see a dream sequence where a man is trapped in his own car in traffic, suffocating by the fumes, obviously meaning his situation with the producers, actors, *women* hounding him throught 8 ½. The pressure of his duties as director have finally wore him down so much that he wants nothing to do with them, but he cannot simply give the project up for he would lose everything he needs (I believe the women). At a press conference, he is questioned on when the filming will begin and who will be starring. He has no answers, only a blank stare which the media pounces on. He flees the stalking questions of the new reporters and producers by hiding underneath the conference table. The only way he sees to release himself is through the bullet of a gun, given to him by his faithful assistant whom he treated horribly. It is unclear if he actually commited suicide or it is just a methaphorical symbol that he finally let go of his responsibilities. However, the important message to take from the ending, or at least what I got out of it, is that life if a game that we are all actors and actresses performing our simple roles and that our only real response from the stage of life is to join hands and celebrate the good moments.
mike smitty
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