La Dolce Vita

A few of us had the unique opportunity to see La Dulce Vita by Fredrico Fellini at the British Film Institute theatre. I must say Fellini’s film is bizarre to first time Fellini viewers. A second screening would be helpful to comprehend Fellini’s message. With all the odd scenes that jump from one thing to another keeps us puzzled until the end. Still, Fellini was successful in keeping with the irony of the title, “The Sweet Life” as not so sweet throughout the film.
Fellini portrays the disappointing life of Marcello, his main character. Marcello strives to be a successful writer and to live a lavish lifestyle of his friend Steiner, whom he looks up to. Unfortunately for him, life is not so sweet. Marcello’s father was hardly visible during his childhood, so there is a void in Marcello’s life. Steiner commits suicide and shatters Marcello’s world. Unable to keep his dreams of becoming a successful writer, Marcello finds solitude in alcohol.
The sweet life was not so sweet in the scene of the Madonna, who supposedly appears before the eyes of two children by a tree. Great havoc in the town commences as Catholics rush to the town hoping the Madonna would be merciful to the ill. After the Miracle Tree is destroyed by crazed Catholics, one gravely ill believer parishes at the scene.
Many scenes in the film leave bizarre images to us beginner Fellini viewers. We find ourselves asking WHY for many of Fellini’s choices. For example, a statue of Jesus, dangling by a helicopter as it flies to the Vatican leaves us puzzled, for the Jesus statue does not appear again in the film, nor does the Vatican. Why open with such a strong Catholic statement? Another scene that has viewers puzzled is when Marcello’s father takes off into the night with a show girl to “have a drink,” all of a sudden becomes ill. The illness is speculated from too much drinking. All of a sudden, Marcello’s father is up and dressed and runs off to catch his train back home. The father is not scene or heard from again. Why was he in such a rush to leave significant in the film?
Overall, the experience of seeing an old film live on a big screen was an experience one does not often get in the U.S. Our old films are stowed away in vaults, occasionally surfacing on the AMC channel or newly released on DVD. The British cherish films as much as they cherish their theatre. It was nice to see a country taking so much pride in classic films. By experiencing Britain’s lush culture and history, like the Fellini film, we students are definitely living a sweet life.

Mary Brock