8½

FEDERICO FELLINI | ITALY, FRANCE | 1963 | 138 MIN | NR | 35 MM | ITALIAN W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES

This screening will feature live music 30 minutes prior to start time.

8½ is one of the most heralded films in cinema history, and perhaps the definitive film about filmmaking. A drama or comedy (depending on who you ask) with flourishes of the fantastical, 8½ finds legendary maestro Federico Fellini using actor Marcello Mastroianni (La Dolce Vita) as his surrogate to portray famous director Guido Anselmi. Suffering from self-proclaimed “director’s block” while in production on a epic science-fiction film, Guido humorously fields questions from exasperating reporters, dubious producers, and suspicious lovers. Yet Guido retreats into his mind as the pressure mounts, finding solace in his childhood memory of the enchanting La Saraghina and a riotous reverie amongst rebellious women. As the line between reality and fantasy blurs, the equally brazen and guilt-ridden Guido begins to cast actors for his film that bear uncanny resemblances to their real-life counterparts, resulting in an audacious, stunningly emotional, and visually splendid finale that cements the film as one of the greats.

Cast: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo

“The best film ever made about filmmaking.” –Roger Ebert