Would it be a bad idea for me to watch this movie before any of his other films? I've heard good things about Fellini, and saw this on sale so I decided to pick it up, but I don't want to watch this before his others if it would scare me off from his work.
shareIf you are prepared to watch a film with no plot, the protagonist of which is an entire city, a film which has properties of a documentary, though a very personal (and at times satirical) one, then yes, it's not a bad introduction to Fellini at all; you will find a variety of motifs of this film in his other films again (except his early ones), particularly "La dolce vita", "8½" and "Giulietta degli spiriti".
When, on the other hand, your username allows some inference on what films you probably like, I'd say chances are you might be disappointed by this and Fellini in general. If you dislike "Roma", Fellini may not be your cup of tea, but of course I'm just speculating based on next to nothing.
Regards, Rosabel
I realy don't recommend it. I watched Roma before I've watched any fellini and I couldn't see the whole movie.
I didn't watch it again but I love Fellini now, and I'm more likely to enjow Rome now.
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Amarcord is a good movie to start with. It's very enjoyable and it doesn't have a complicated plot. It's a beautiful and funny movie.
shareI always recommend 8 1/2 as first film to watch.
I think you shouldnt watch films like la dolce vita or satyricon first because you might get a wrong impression.
My first experience was Satyricon in a *beep* college theater. It was me and a handful of people. They had posted an advertisement on 8x11 sheets all over the main building. Anything weird and edgy makes for good college screening. I was mesmerized! Despite the crappy projection. I never knew that people made movies like this. I've since seen almost all of his films. But Satyricon and Roma (saw it the following week under the same conditions) hold a special place. What freedom! My advice to anyone seeking out Fellini - just dive in. Chances are you will come across his "masterpieces" first anyway. But that's not the whole story. If you have a whimsical sense of humor, Fellini will make perfect sense. Any one of the films are ripe...
shareMy first experience was Satyricon in a *beep* college theater. It was me and a handful of people. They had posted advertisements on 8x11 sheets all over the main building. Anything weird and edgy makes for good college screening I suppose. But I was mesmerized! Despite the crappy projection. I never knew that people made movies like this. I've since seen almost all of his films. But Satyricon and Roma (saw it the following week under the same conditions) hold a special place. What freedom! My advice to anyone seeking out Fellini - just dive in. Chances are you will come across his "masterpieces" first anyway. But that's not the whole story. If you have a whimsical sense of humor, Fellini will make perfect sense. Any one of the films are ripe...
shareI advise you to watch La Dolce Vita first and then 8 1/2, his ultimate masterpiece.
shareI watched a special feature on the La Dolce Vita dvd, and alexander payne said he loved it, but didn't fully understand it, and said that he had a better understanding of it after returning to watch it after having seen Fellini's previous films, in order to get a sense of his style and what not. I loved La Dolce Vita and also didn't quite understand it all too. I then stupidly went on to see 8 1/2 and that went totally over my head. I watched one of his first ones the other day though; La Strada. And that was very different to 8 1/2. Very simple plot, but still a pretty good movie. I'd say La Strada is a great place to start. Now I'm keen to see Nights of Cabiria
No expectations, no disappointments.
From my review of Satyricon :
If a filmmaker's appeal were solely based on seduction, then Federico Fellini would epitomize the expression "hard to get". Still, what a relief when we finally 'get' him!
I remember a few years ago, my first intended immersion into Fellini's universe was through his groundbreaking "8½". As a result, I waited one year and half before giving a second chance to Fellini. This is how disappointed I was, maybe less by the film than by my inability to claim that Fellini was an avant-garde genius. I guess I dived too brutally in cold water, while I should have approached it step by step.
I started then with his neo-realist period, and after "Nights of Cabiria" and "La Strada", my heart was conquered and the rest of his oeuvre, including "8½", confirmed my feelings that Fellini was on the field of emotions what Ingmar Bergman was on human psychology, essential to Cinema and complementary like libido and psyche for humans. And through the most libidinous "Satyricon", Fellini signs the most defining of all his films.