All my art house film groupies will appreciate that I went and saw Fellini’s Casanova last night.
I was with three of my friends and each of us were all were astounded, okay, dumbfounded and riddled with perplexity after we left the theater. I’ve seen a couple of Fellini’s films before, but I don’t remember feeling quite as odd as I did after seeing this film. If you’re not familiar with the Felliniesque approach, let me try and explain. It is a constant blend of reality with fantasy until the lines between the two begin to blur, and you’re not sure where reality ends and fantasy begins. Fellini is known for expressing the inner life of a conflicted character. For me, watching Fellini is a lot like being in some maniacal fun house. And try if you want too, but you cannot predict what’s around the next corner. Fellini’s style is in your face, radical and potent as hell. As a more recent cinematic reference, it’s very clear to me that one of my favorite macabre directors, David Lynch studied Fellini with a fine tooth comb, or probably a more accurately, he used a pair of sharp scissors.
Last night’s film was about Fellini’s interpretation of the famous, Venetian lover, Giacomo Casanova. According to history and Fellini’s autobiographical adaptation of Senor Casanova, this red-blooded Latin saw more pussy than most players in the NBA. He was an 18th Century stud. He was also a writer. I suppose technically he was an erotic fiction writer, because he wrote about his own “true life” sexual experiences, while adding a pinch of embellishment here and some bravado there. Hmmm…sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t?
There was an open discussion about the film on the way home in the car. Passerbies would wonder why four faces would all be scratching their heads and looking so forlorn. Finally after hearing countless sentences that began with, “I’m not sure.” Or “What do you suppose…?” My friend Lois finally said, “I don’t know what the hell was going on in that film, but I’m going home to Wikipedia it.”
Nine films by Italian maestro, Federico Fellini are playing at CIA’s Cinematheque during select times in November and December. Select here to download a film schedule.
Fantastical Fellini
Neve Black
Hmmm… I am not sure if this means you liked it and recommend his movies or not?
Hey D,
Yeah, I suppose I wasn’t clear on giving this film a thumbs up or down, was I? I would give it a thumbs up, because the acting, lyrical set, cinematic message and because this is Fellini, but for me, this Fellini film was a lot like drinking the boldest red. I would recommend starting with a white first, like his film, La Strada, or Nights of Cabria, which are crazy enough, before moving into the heavier pours, like La Dolce Vita and then his Casanova.
Does that help?
Wasn’t Casanova also a librarian - or is that my wishful thinking? It’s the quiet, bookish ones you have to watch out for…
ah i loved fellini..federrrrico..:-)
i wonder which one was my fav. one of his films..i guess it was roma, open city as well as paesa..peasa?? i m not sure..its way too long ago since i saw one the last time..
soon they shown in a small cinema near to my home operas from the new york metropolitan opera..i cant wait for that..:-)
Hahaha, Janine! You’re correct. Here’s the wiki on Casa:
“…He was so famous as a womanizer that his name remains synonymous with the art of seduction and he is sometimes called “the world’s greatest lover”. He associated with European royalty, popes and cardinals, along with men such as Voltaire, Goethe and Mozart; but if he had not been obliged to spend some years as a librarian in the household of Count Waldstein of Bohemia (where he relieved his boredom by writing the story of his life), it is possible that he would be forgotten today….”
Tada.
Danielle,
Cool that a cinema house is opening close to you. I love film as much as I love getting lost in a great book. They each feed my soul.
yes, that helps. Thanks.