It is no secret that this year the great Italian filmmaker celebrates 100 years, event worth remembering due to his immortal film career and his conception of the big screen. A genius who experienced matter as his own life.
Federico Fellini was born on January 20th, 1920 in Rimini, Italy. One of the most important events that marked his way of making movies emerged when he was still a kid. After attending the circus for the first time, he was so amazed that he decided to run away from home the next morning to join it; of course, his plan could not be completed, since he was discovered and taken back to his family. This marked his career and the circus was always present in his work.
This rebellious revolutionary was honored with four Academy Awards (1954, La Strada; 1957, Le notti di Cabiria; 1963, 8½; 1975, Amarcord), an Academy Honorary Award (1993, Award for Career Achievements), and the Palm d’Or (1960, La Dolce Vita). He started his career in the industry as an advertising illustrator for movies. Later he made collaborations for screenplays of several films by Roberto Rossellini (Roma, Città Aperta, 1945).
The Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni came into Fellini’s life in 1948, after performing in a play along with Giulietta Masina (his wife), Angelica, by Leo Ferrero at Teatro delle Arti, what resulted in a strong friendship between the two and a constant in his productions. His debut as director came along Alberto Lattuada with Luci del varietà in 1950 and his first solo showing was Lo Sceicco Bianco with actor Alberto Sordi, written by Michelangelo Antonioni and Ennio Flaiano.
One of the most representative (and acclaimed) films in his career, 8 ½, was screened during the Cannes Festival in 1963 and later got nominated to four Academy Awards, for art direction and decoration, for best foreign movie and conquered seven Nastro d’Argento. This film marked the beginning of Fellini’s cinema second stage, its main features revolved around an exuberant fantasy, Baroque details, and a surreal mood.
Fellini’s career can be divided in three eras:
- The early days and his relationship with the neo-realistic current, which took over Italian cinema in the 40’s and 50’s decades, I vitelloni is an example.
- The aforementioned stage, where the international conquest stands out, La Dolce Vita, Casanova, and La Strada are some archetypes.
- And the mature era, where he takes distance from the critic, losing the international massiveness, caused mainly by the big studios in the United States, and the clear generational change in the 70’s. In 1993 he had a stroke and died in Rome, Italy.
With the purpose of learning more about his career and to celebrate his 100 anniversary, Grupo Arca’s Design Center in Guadalajara, along with ITESO present, “Fellini’s Spaces”, an exhibition to celebrate his life. A series of parallel events will be held across all the center’s available spaces, like the forum, where an installation was set up, screening some movie scenes that marked his career.
Featured filmography: La Voce della Luna, 1990; Ginger & Fred, 1986; E la nave va, 1983; Città delle donne, 1980; Prova d’orchestra, 1978; Casanova, 1976; Amarcord, 1973; Roma, 1972; I Clowns, 1971; Satyricon, 1969; Histoires extraordinaires, 1968; Giulietta de los espíritus, 1965; 8 1/2, 1963; Bocaccio 70, 1962; La Dolce Vita, 1960; Le notti di Cabiria, 1957; Il bidone, 1955; La Strada, 1954; I vitelloni, 1953; L’amore in città, 1953; Lo Sceicco Bianco, 1952; Luci del varietá, 1950.