MovieChat Forums > I vitelloni (1956) Discussion > The thing that strikes me the most about...

The thing that strikes me the most about Fellini

posted 16 years ago by s0s
1 reply | jump to latest

Is his beautiful way of setting things up early in the movie, that turns out to be a moment of great significance later in the movie:

Vitteloni: Moraldo talking at night with the young railroad employee, turns out to be the event that triggered Moraldo to escape from the small world he lived in.

La Dolce Vita: The young blonde girl whom Marcello is talking to somewhere in the middle of the film, is later an instrument to place Marcello in front of a huge choice at the beach. Although Marcello himself might not understand the significance of that event, we know that it is, very roughly said, a choice of living a good life or a bad life.

I know this "setup/pay off" thing is a common toole, but the way Fellini uses it is magnificent, and really subtle.

What about Fellini does it for you?

[–] Piperson 9 years ago

Reading your comments made me think of other "pay offs" and I thought of a beautiful one.

In Amarcord, at the beginning "puff balls" which are a sign of spring are blowing over the town. At the end, after a year has passed with many adventures and even deaths, the grieving boy is wandering on the beach and the puff balls begin blowing again signalling that life goes on. Very moving without a single word being spoken.

I like your observation about Fellini's ability to create these connections.