When I begin writing films, where do i begin. what will happen in the future- no. what happened recently- unless it's groundbreaking material, no. why not start at the beginning. i would use people i knew, like Frederico Fellini, the director of the film, did. the main character of the film was a friend of his. he made a film about what he saw around him. the people. that is what made the film a success: it's familial warmth. i can absolutly believe that there were people and towns exactly like this one but all over the world. when i can feel a films' warmth and i can feel a character's pain. i know that it is a great work of art. this is what i will strive for when i make my films. bringing the audience in by using relatable characters. if you saw the recent blockbuster "The Other Guys", you cannot realate because the characters are so absurd. that's not the only one. everyone makes a big deal about a stupid movie called "The Hangover". uh yeah drunk people as relatable characters- great message right? my point is i could feel the characters. Fellini has invited us to take a look into his past which is not self-centered but brilliant. there are very few films that make me feel comfortable, like im at home and this is one. there is so much insight and maybe i love it so much because im Italian. maybe it's biast. now some people hate Fellini because, and this is something someone actually said, 'too many clowns'. well Fellini, i love your clowns.
There really isnt that much of a story. the film is unique that way. there is no exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and the denouement. it is told almost in vignettes of the same period of time. we are introduced to a family with a hot-headed father, a kind and caring but dramatic mother, our protagonist Titta who is a trickster "but with a heart ('The Player' [1992])." there is the villiage beauty, the blind accordian player, the stout tobacconist, the town idiot, the aristocrat, the crazy-ass uncle, the other uncle who's good at dancing, the Fascists, the grandfather, the crazy-ass teachers, the dwarf nun, the prostitute, the SS Rex, the Lawyer, the Prince and all the young rambunkshus schoolboys. stories are told, things happen, people die, others learn, get married, pranks are pulled, and crazy men climb trees all in the course of a year. it is all so effortless for Fellini. he just 'breathes' the film out. he thinks it and there it is. that is what makes his films the astonishing feats they are. they are so visually exubrant and exotic even his B&Ws. the film is also terriblyfunny. there are many scenes that, if you were actually there, should have been taken seriously. like the scene during confession which is really supposed to be a serious matter but the way in which it is presented makes it rather comical. i think Titta's father was hilarious as well. his tirades and how furious he would get with Titta was rather funny. the pranks pulled by the schoolboys were quite original and were probably actually used then. the scene where Gradisca, the town beauty, try out different positions for meeting the Prince (in which she uses none of). the people were so natural which made them so comedic. this and "La Strada" of 1954 are my two favorite Fellini's so far.
The performances were right on target. they were just real and you can't tamper with that. there is nothing better than a realistic picture. you can't change what actually happened but im not saying that EVERYTHING that happened in the film actually happened. im sure Fellini stretched or condensed some things but as long as it works. Another intresting aspect of the film is the fact that it's stationary. we are in the same town for the entire film. another way we as an audience are invited into the action. Pedro Almodovar must love this film because his style is very similar. the colors. they use that electric red in their films; Almodovar uses it in about every shot. that warmth is unforgettable and classic. is you compare this to Clint Eastwood's masterpeice "Mystic River" in 2003 you will see a huge color pallet difference which controls the mood completly. without the striking colors, the film would go flat. Hitchcock is another one with color although many of his films use dark material. look at "Vertigo", "North by Northwest" and "Rear Window". both dark film, "Vertigo" is definatly darker, but the colors are bright. every filmmaker uses a bit of their childhood in at least one of their films. it may not be as direct as "Amarcord" but it is absolutly there. The title means I Remember in Italian and it is quite evident to what he is refering to: innocence.
| Year | Result | Award | Category/Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Nominated | Oscar | Best Director |
| Best Writing, Original Screenplay Federico Fellini Tonino Guerra | |||
| 1975 | Won | Oscar | Best Foreign Language Film Italy |
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