Fellini explaining the reactions of Federico: "The clowns didn't make me laugh; they frightened me [with their] atrocious jokes, enigmas and chalky faces."
They remind him of lecherous village idiots, of all sorts of madmen with their "terrifying, exhilarating violence."
Three questions: how did you feel about clowns as a child, would you describe yourself as highly sensitive and/or highly intelligent, and how do you feel about them today?
Interesting topic.
1) As a child I never really liked clowns, I didn't like how chaotic their show were and how grotesque some of the look and humor was.
2) I think as a kid I already was a very introspective, quiet person that thought a lot. I don't think that makes me necessarily intelligent, but I was also always very emotional, which does not necessarily mean I'm sensitive (although I think I am).
3) Today, much like Fellini clowns hold a certain fascination for me. They make me a bit sad and melancholy, but I definitely "get" them more although I'm still not a fan of their humor (not really my style), but I think Fellini has done a lot to influence me on how I see them.
Loved this documentary. Probably my favorite documentary of all time (though I've not seen many so I'm no expert).
Mavis, I'm a married man!
Since I grew up in a show biz family and spent a lot of time around circuses and show people--and clowns, I enjoyed them. There is that creepy factor, but the humor of clowns can show a wide range.
Over the years I've known some clowns who were very nice people and others who were really kind of creepy or sad. Clowns essentially run the gamut of what it is to be human. They come in all kinds. Clowns are just people with a peculiar sort of occupation.
I consider myself fairly intelligent, but also relatively sensitive. As a child I certainly had my silly side, but over all I tended to be serious, studious, and rather conservative for a kid.
I think Fellini's great film does an excellent job of portraying the world of clowns and showing us that clowns are merely representations of each of us and all the crazy world we live in.
Since I grew up in a show biz family and spent a lot of time around circuses and show people--and clowns, I enjoyed them. There is that creepy factor, but the humor of clowns can show a wide range.
Over the years I've known some clowns who were very nice people and others who were really kind of creepy or sad. Clowns essentially run the gamut of what it is to be human. They come in all kinds. Clowns are just people with a peculiar sort of occupation.
I consider myself fairly intelligent, but also relatively sensitive. As a child I certainly had my silly side, but over all I tended to be serious, studious, and rather conservative for a kid.
I think Fellini's great film does an excellent job of portraying the world of clowns and showing us that clowns are merely representations of each of us and all the crazy world we live in.