By: Mackenzie Lambert
As a break from the Buffalo International Film Festival, I thought it warranted mentioning of what has become a cinematic tradition in Buffalo. The Fall 2010 Buffalo Film Seminar screened Frederico Fellini’s 8 ½ last night at the Market Arcade. For future reference, I recommend visitors of BIFF from out of town take an opportunity to check out this insightful, entertaining evening at the movies with UB Professors Diane Christian and Bruce Jackson.
I must admit that up until this showing, I had never seen a Fellini film. I’ve heard many people reference the director and his work, but I hadn’t seen it myself. My experience with Italian cinema is limited to Lucio Fulci, Sergio Leone, and Dario Argento. But after seeing 8 ½, I am curious to explore some of Fellini’s other work.
The movie focuses on it-director Guido Anselmi during the pre-production stage of his next movie. He doesn’t have a script or a set cast of actors. The whole set-up turns out to be mostly an opportunity to engage in an affair with his mistress, Claudia, played by the still-stunning Claudia Cardinale. To avoid suspicion by his wife, Luisa (Anouk Aimee), he invites her to be with him during the production. This only further complicates matters as the producer, writer, and random strangers contend for his attention.
While dealing with serious subject matter like his childhood in the strict care of Catholic ministry and his affair, there are moments of laughable absurdity. In the opening scene, someone floats over traffic moments after nearly dying in his car. There is a scene where he walks in and all the women in his life and others are his own personal harem. Then, there’s the bizarre-ending that maybe a meta-commentary on what’s happened through the entire movie.
It was interesting to hear the facts and history surrounding the film from the seminar’s leaders, Christian and Jackson. The film never uses live sound for the dialogue. All the dialogue was dubbed after the scenes are shot. For all the audience knew, the actors were speaking jibberish to one another while on the set. Additionally, this is one of 45 movies that the Vatican has some grievances with. Like they’re the ones to issue grievances.
Later on in the semester, the Buffalo Film Seminar will feature a diversity of titles including the iconic The Godfather, the John Cleese classic A Fish Called Wanda, the infamous Oldboy, and probably the most accessible of the Coen Brothers’ movies, The Big Lebowski. Showtimes begin at 7 pm. The complete schedule can be found on their website.
—
Mackenzie Lambert is a Buffalo-based columnist. He has been
featured in such publications as Penny Blood and Pantechnicon. He is
also a movie columnist for The Men’s Room Today (www.themensroomtoday.com).