FELLINI'S ROMA

Italy, 1972, 128 minutes, Colour.
Peter Gonzales, Fiona Florence, Marne Maitland, Britta Barnes.
Directed by Federico Fellini.

Fellini's Roma, emphasis definitely on Fellini. Several brilliant episodes are assembled here, evidence of Fellini's development as thinker, artist, man, Italian to 1972. 8 ½ has an exploration of psyche and morality in the world of film and imagination. Now Fellini (more lightly humorous) explores his interests, tastes and hates in the world of film, technology and memory. The film is self-indulgent in its preoccupation with its creator's outlook and style, but absorbing as a particular essay on facets of Italy and Rome over four decades. Sex is presented with Puritanical praise in a short segment. Ecclesiastical pomp and pomposity are mocked in an extraordinary spectacular fantasy (reminiscent of Christ's attacks in Matthew 23?)

1. For whom was this film made? For Fellini Romans and Italians. Fellini followers? Why was it made?

2. The introduction about Rome by Fellini? Did the film explain and justify the introduction? What kind of portrait and interpretation of Rome, past.' present and future? The significance of Rome in history, at the present? Rome and civilisation, Rome and religion? Rome as a microcosm of many aspects of world culture?

3. How is the film best described? As a portrait, an essay, a memoir? How do these aspects indicate the treatment of Rome?

4. The continual contrast of old Rome and new Rome in terms of looks, sounds, people, memories, mystique?

5. The importance of situating this view of Rome in Fellini's outlook on life? The detailed memories of Northern Italy? Fellini as a boy, the lessons. the Rubicon, the slide program and the priests, home life and meals. and going to the pictures kneeling for the Papal blessing etc.? What kind of portrait of family life in the 30s did this give? How engaging how humane? Strengths and weaknesses? The influence on Fellini in terms of Italy, culture and religion?

6. Fellini's arrival in Rome in the background of his childhood? Arriving by train the way he was dressed. the naive young man looking at the city, finding his friends, looking at the houses and tenements and the crowded way of life, the people, young and old?

7. The detailed portrayal of the streets of Rome? The meals, the families eating together the food and the enjoyment of the food, the singing, the happiness? The people wandering the streets? Rome and its humanity?

8. The sexual overtones of the film? The importance of presenting the two brothels? The line-up and the stinginess of the lower class brothel? The women working there? The contrast with the elegance and the formality and the sensuality of the richer brothel? The comment on Rome and sexuality?

9. How enjoyable was the long presentation of the music-hall routines? The people there and their reactions.. their lack of respect and reverence, their seeking of enjoyment? The various comedy acts e.g. the Laurel and Hardy types? The small man and his dancing routine? The world of the music hall and what it represents to Fellini?

10. The seeming realism of the highway sequence? The elaborate setting-up of the cameras for the filming of a journey into Rome? Fellini himself and his comments? The people in attendance? The difficulties of filming, the rain and the weather? The growing nightmare on the roads with the traffic, the accidents, the screeching and the noise? The similarity in style for the excavation sequence? The elaborate influence of filming, the details of the engineers. the ruins under Rome? The symbolism and significance of the statues and frescoes hidden silently under the city. their exposure to the 20th century and their vanishing? The comment on Rome by these two episodes?

11. The response to the world of Domitilla and her harking back to the turn of the century? The genteel ways of Roman aristocracy? Old and decayed and living in memories? Her inviting her archaic friends? The religious overtones and the respect for the church? The transition to the fashion show and its elaborate vulgarity? The humour of the music, the postures, the choreography? The parody and build-up of Episcopal regalia, the narcissistic symbolism of Catholic religion? The grand climax with the Pope? What insight into Catholic religion did this give? The influence on Rome and the Italian way of life?

12. The transition to Trastevere? Again the picture of ordinary Romans celebrating, the comments of Anna Magnani and her seeming disregard of the questions? Gore Vidal and his comment on the death of cultures and watching the death of civilisation of Rome?

13. The significance of the long ending with the bike tour of Rome? The overtones of science fiction. bikie films and violence, futuristic noises and speed? Impersonal tourists? Why this ending?

14. Comment on the thematic aspects of Rome in terms of its mystique. Rome as a city, its people, traditions, way of life? The insights into human nature. strengths and foibles. religion and the state. the fascination of Italy and Rome? The insight into Fellini himself and his filmmaking?