Fellini, Federico

From New World Encyclopedia
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Fellini is generally considered by film critics and scholars, as well as fellow film directors, to be one of the finest [[film director]]s of all time. Every decade, starting in 1952, ''[[Sight and Sound]]'', the official magazine of the British Film Institute, has conducted a worldwide poll of film critics and film directors. In its latest such poll, conducted in 2002, Fellini was listed as #7 on the critics' list of the top ten directors of all time, and #2 on the directors' list. Fellini's movie ''[[8½]]'' was #9 on the critics' list of the top ten greatest films ever made, and #3 on the directors' list. So he is highly regarded by critics, and even more highly so by his fellow directors.
 
Fellini is generally considered by film critics and scholars, as well as fellow film directors, to be one of the finest [[film director]]s of all time. Every decade, starting in 1952, ''[[Sight and Sound]]'', the official magazine of the British Film Institute, has conducted a worldwide poll of film critics and film directors. In its latest such poll, conducted in 2002, Fellini was listed as #7 on the critics' list of the top ten directors of all time, and #2 on the directors' list. Fellini's movie ''[[8½]]'' was #9 on the critics' list of the top ten greatest films ever made, and #3 on the directors' list. So he is highly regarded by critics, and even more highly so by his fellow directors.
  
Fellini's films typically combine memory, dreams, fantasy, and desire. His earlier films are markedly seen as being of a genre following from Italian Neo-Realism, with his latter films moving more into fantasy and symbolism. In fact, his later films have led to a term to describe his film style and that of others who follow or imitate him: ''Felliniesque''.
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Throughout the [[1950s]], [[1960s]], [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] his films were widely acclaimed, and four of his movies won the Best Foreign Film Oscar.
 +
 
 +
Fellini's films typically combine memory, dreams, fantasy, and desire, and there is frequently a strong autobiographical content in them. His earlier films are markedly seen as being of a genre following from Italian Neo-Realism, with his latter films moving more into fantasy and symbolism. In fact, his later films have led to usage of a term to describe his film style and that of others who follow or imitate him: ''Felliniesque''.  
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
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In addition to making films, Fellini also wrote scripts for [[radio]] shows, for movies (mainly for Rossellini) and wrote comic gags for well known actors like Aldo Fabrizi.  
 
In addition to making films, Fellini also wrote scripts for [[radio]] shows, for movies (mainly for Rossellini) and wrote comic gags for well known actors like Aldo Fabrizi.  
Fellini also took part in writing another of Rossellini's movies, ''[[Paisà]]''. He wrote also for other directors such as [[Alberto Lattuada]], [[Pietro Germi]], and [[Luigi Comencini]].
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Fellini also took part in writing another of Rossellini's movies, ''[[Paisà]]''. He wrote also for other directors such as [[Alberto Lattuada]], [[Pietro Germi]], and [[Luigi Comencini]].  
+
 
Fellini's wife, [[Actor|actress]] [[Giulietta Masina]] (married in 1943) was often in his movies. Other actors with whom Fellini frequently worked include [[Marcello Mastroianni]], [[Alberto Sordi]], and [[Anita Ekberg]].
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Fellini married Italian [[Actor|actress]] [[Giulietta Masina]] in 1943, and she often appeared in his movies: ''La Strada'' (1954), ''Il Bidone (The Swindle)'' (1955), ''La Notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria)'' (1957), ''Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the Spirits)'' (1965), and ''Ginger e Fred (Ginger and Fred)'' (1986). Although they were not necessarily always faithful to each other, they remained a strongly devoted couple and lived together for the rest of their lives. In [[1945]] they had a son who survived for only 2 weeks; he was their only child.
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In [[1945]] Fellini had a son who survived for only 2 weeks; he was the only son of Fellini and Giulietta Masina.
+
Other actors with whom Fellini frequently worked include [[Marcello Mastroianni]], [[Alberto Sordi]], and [[Anita Ekberg]].
 
 
 
 
 
In [[1948]] Fellini acted in Rossellini's ''Il Miracolo''.  
 
In [[1948]] Fellini acted in Rossellini's ''Il Miracolo''.  
 
Throughout the [[1950s]], [[1960s]], [[1970s]] and [[1980s]] his films were widely acclaimed, and four of his movies won the Best Foreign Film Oscar.
 
 
 
 
 
 
In 1991 Fellini's text "''[[Trip to Tulum]]''" was translated into [[English language|English]] by Stefano Gaudiano and published in a graphic form in the magazine ''[[Crisis (comic)|Crisis]]'' with artwork by [[Milo Manara]].  
 
In 1991 Fellini's text "''[[Trip to Tulum]]''" was translated into [[English language|English]] by Stefano Gaudiano and published in a graphic form in the magazine ''[[Crisis (comic)|Crisis]]'' with artwork by [[Milo Manara]].  
 
 
 
 
In [[1993]] he received an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for his lifetime achievement. That same year, he died in [[Rome]] at the age of 73.  
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In [[1993]] Fellini received an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] for his lifetime achievement; his wife Giulietta Masina was at the ceremony with him and broke out crying when he was on stage receiving the award. Although many people did not realize it, he was quite sick at the time and died that same year in [[Rome]] at the age of 73; Giulietta Masina died less than five months later on March 23, 1994.
  
Federico Fellini, his wife [[Giulietta Masina]] and their son Pierfederico, are buried in the same tomb,which monument, sculpted in iron by [[Arnaldo Pomodoro]], is shaped as a prow in the water and is located at the entrance of the main Cemetery of Rimini
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Federico Fellini, Giulietta Masina, and their son Pierfederico are buried in the same tomb in the main Cemetery of Rimini. Their monument, sculpted in iron by [[Arnaldo Pomodoro]], is shaped as a prow in the water and is located at the entrance of the cemetary.
 
 
 
 
 
The [[Federico Fellini International Airport]] in [[Rimini]], is named in his honor.
 
The [[Federico Fellini International Airport]] in [[Rimini]], is named in his honor.
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==Some Fellini Films==
 
==Some Fellini Films==
  
Fellini's earliest films were made in and contunued the Italian neo-realist cinema tradition.
+
Fellini's earliest films were made in and continued the Italian neo-realist cinema tradition.
  
 
== Filmography as director ==
 
== Filmography as director ==

Revision as of 16:25, 13 September 2007

Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini NYWTS 2.jpg
Born
January 20, 1920
Rimini, Italy
Died
October 31, 1993
Rome, Italy

Federico Fellini or Frederico Rimini-Fellini, as his contemporaries referred to him, (January 20 1920 – October 31 1993) was one of the most influential and widely revered Italian film-makers of the second half of the 20th century.

Fellini is generally considered by film critics and scholars, as well as fellow film directors, to be one of the finest film directors of all time. Every decade, starting in 1952, Sight and Sound, the official magazine of the British Film Institute, has conducted a worldwide poll of film critics and film directors. In its latest such poll, conducted in 2002, Fellini was listed as #7 on the critics' list of the top ten directors of all time, and #2 on the directors' list. Fellini's movie was #9 on the critics' list of the top ten greatest films ever made, and #3 on the directors' list. So he is highly regarded by critics, and even more highly so by his fellow directors.

Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s his films were widely acclaimed, and four of his movies won the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Fellini's films typically combine memory, dreams, fantasy, and desire, and there is frequently a strong autobiographical content in them. His earlier films are markedly seen as being of a genre following from Italian Neo-Realism, with his latter films moving more into fantasy and symbolism. In fact, his later films have led to usage of a term to describe his film style and that of others who follow or imitate him: Felliniesque.

Life

Fellini was born in and raised in the Italian town of Rimini, and his childhood experiences would later play an important part in many of his films.

During Mussolini's Fascist regime, he was an Avanguardista, and his first writings were for Alleanza Cinematografica Italiana (ACI), the production company of Vittorio Mussolini, son of Benito. Vittorio Mussolini introduced Fellini to Roberto Rossellini, the husband of Swedish-born actress Ingrid Bergman from 1950 to 1957 and one of the leading exponents of what came to be known as Italian neo-realist cinema; Rossellini is best known for his post WWII films Roma, città aperta (1945) (known as Open City in the USA), and Stromboli (1950).

Fellini was a cartoonist and creator of comic-book style drawings before he became a filmmaker, and he would continue to create such drawings throughout his life. His drawings (mostly pencil on paper) were often humorous portraits. Through these works young Fellini encountered cinema: his first success was in drawing advertising pictures for movies.

In 1944, after Mussolini's downfall, Fellini opened a shop in Rome in which he sold his drawings. The shop was named (in English) "The Funny Face Shop," and contained works from Fellini and De Seta, Verdini, Camerini, Scarpelli, Majorana, Guasta, Giobbe, Attalo, Migneco (all writers, directors or otherwise intellectuals working for Italian cinema). A major inspiration for Fellini was Goethe. In the same year he started his contribution to Rossellini's Roma città aperta, starring Aldo Fabrizi.

Fellini's first solo-directed film was Lo Sceicco Bianco (1951), with Alberto Sordi, written by Michelangelo Antonioni and Ennio Flaiano. In making this movie Fellini met Nino Rota, the musician who would follow him for the successful remainder of his career.

In addition to making films, Fellini also wrote scripts for radio shows, for movies (mainly for Rossellini) and wrote comic gags for well known actors like Aldo Fabrizi. Fellini also took part in writing another of Rossellini's movies, Paisà. He wrote also for other directors such as Alberto Lattuada, Pietro Germi, and Luigi Comencini.

Fellini married Italian actress Giulietta Masina in 1943, and she often appeared in his movies: La Strada (1954), Il Bidone (The Swindle) (1955), La Notti di Cabiria (Nights of Cabiria) (1957), Giulietta degli spiriti (Juliet of the Spirits) (1965), and Ginger e Fred (Ginger and Fred) (1986). Although they were not necessarily always faithful to each other, they remained a strongly devoted couple and lived together for the rest of their lives. In 1945 they had a son who survived for only 2 weeks; he was their only child.

Other actors with whom Fellini frequently worked include Marcello Mastroianni, Alberto Sordi, and Anita Ekberg.

In 1948 Fellini acted in Rossellini's Il Miracolo.

In 1991 Fellini's text "Trip to Tulum" was translated into English by Stefano Gaudiano and published in a graphic form in the magazine Crisis with artwork by Milo Manara.

In 1993 Fellini received an Oscar for his lifetime achievement; his wife Giulietta Masina was at the ceremony with him and broke out crying when he was on stage receiving the award. Although many people did not realize it, he was quite sick at the time and died that same year in Rome at the age of 73; Giulietta Masina died less than five months later on March 23, 1994.

Federico Fellini, Giulietta Masina, and their son Pierfederico are buried in the same tomb in the main Cemetery of Rimini. Their monument, sculpted in iron by Arnaldo Pomodoro, is shaped as a prow in the water and is located at the entrance of the cemetary.

The Federico Fellini International Airport in Rimini, is named in his honor.

Some Fellini Films

Fellini's earliest films were made in and continued the Italian neo-realist cinema tradition.

Filmography as director

Links to Fellini's drawings related to single films

  • Luci del Varietà (1950) (co-credited with Alberto Lattuada)
  • Lo Sceicco Bianco (1951) [1] [2]
  • I Vitelloni (1953) [3]
  • L'Amore in Città (1953) (segment Un'agenzia matrimoniale)
  • La Strada (1954) Oscar (best foreign language film) [4]
  • Il bidone (1955)
  • Le Notti di Cabiria (1957) Oscar (best foreign language film) [5]
  • La Dolce Vita (1960) Oscar (best costumes)
  • Boccaccio '70 (1962) (segment Le tentazioni del Dottor Antonio)
  • (1963) 2 Oscars (best foreign language film, best costume design)
  • Giulietta degli Spiriti (1965)
  • Histories Extraordinaries (1968) (segment Toby Dammit)
  • Satyricon (1969)
  • I Clowns (1970)
  • Roma (1972)
  • Amarcord (1973) Oscar (best foreign language film)
  • Il Casanova di Federico Fellini (1976) Oscar (best costume design)
  • Prova d'orchestra (1979)
  • La città delle donne (1980)
  • E la Nave Va (1983)
  • Ginger and Fred (1986)
  • Intervista (1987)
  • La voce della luna (1990)

See also

  • Art film

Bibliographies

Fellini Bibliography (via UC Berkeley)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Walter, Eugene and Katherine Clark (2002). Milking the Moon: A Southerner's Story of Life on This Planet. New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-609-80965-2.  The author describes his many years of working with Fellini in Italy.

External links

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