Rome as protagonist in La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini
Rimini Federico Fellini was born on January 20, 1920 and since childhood he had a special liking for stories and drawing in motion, and above all caricatures.
In 1936, as a teenager involved in a National Fascist Party camp held in Verruchio he drew his first cartoons, later published in The National Opera Diana Balilla of Rimini with the title “1936 campers”. During that time Fellini began to write scripts for the Flash Gordon series.
In 1944, following the liberation of Rome, his love of images led him to open a shop selling portraits and caricatures in Rome. That same year he worked on the screenplay for the film Rome: Open City, directed by Roberto Rossellini, which showed how the Nazi regime affected society.
The film was shot in urban areas and faithfully mirrors reality. Anna Magnani, one of the most extraordinary Italian actresses of all time, plays one of the most famous scenes of the Italian cinema. It was the beginning of Italian neorealism, which was steeped in a critical view of a society that had collaborated with fascism and began to reflect a U.S. flavoured modernity in Europe.
On October 30, 1943, he married his muse, Giulietta Masina, who would star in many of his films.
During his neorealistic phase Fellini worked from scripts, but his film work is also heavily influenced by surrealism and symbolism, evidence of his satirical roots. Unlike in neorealism, Fellini’s characters are exaggerated and move in a dreamlike symbolism which belies traces of critical humour.
One of his most interesting films is the la Dolce Vita, filmed in 1960. It takes a harsh view of the madness, snobbery and nonsense of the hedonistic Roman upper-classes, as cynically observed by a mediocre reporter who dreams of becoming a member of the upper classes. Anita Ekberg appears in one of the most famous movie scenes which takes place by the Fontana di Trevi, which represents the emptiness and superficiality of the café society by depicting their escape from it into the night.
La Dolce Vita shows Rome in all its splendour, and masterfully zeroes in on the contradictions of post-war Rome. Fellini introduces us to the chaotic world of narrow city streets which contrast with the sterile vacuum of modern construction that foreshadows the world to come.
To retrace the steps of these great actors and celebrate the magic of cinema, it’s as easy as renting apartments in Rome and visiting the Trevi Fountain. Pay homage to one of the universal masters of cinema and one of the scenes that no doubt has given lent its silver glow to city’s identity.
