"La Dolce Vita"

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Federico Fellini's Italian film "La Dolce Vita" within the context of its times. The paper looks at how the architecture in the film gives the movie greater resonance and depth and reveals the limitations in the character Marcello's pleasure-seeking view of the world. The paper is of the opinion that the film is a masterpiece by a master-craftsman that uses the architecture of Rome as a most effective tool.

From the Paper:

"The period 1950-1960 was a difficult one in some respects for Italy. The nation's glory as the seat of power for the Roman Empire was obviously far in the past and the country was still suffering the lingering effects - loss of life and international disgrace - of Mussolini's unhinged efforts to gain for himself (and, secondarily, his country) power and standing by aligning (however uneasily) with Hitler; moreover, the country's embarrassing foray into North Africa during the war years (and during the lead-up to the war) was still fresh in mind. While it can be over-stated, one is tempted to suggest that the events of less than two decades earlier - along with the terrible human toll they exacted - fed a burgeoning cynicism that made Italian young people of the age disinclined to accept the mores of their parents; after all, the Second World War had been, for all intents and purposes, their parents' war. When viewed within that context, the spiritually bankrupt nature of many of La Dolce Vita's characters and the sense of decadence which pervades the film throughout seems to hint at a culture that has lost its way and turned against the strict injunctions and moral coda of earlier times."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dir. Federico Fellini. La Dolce Vita. Perf. Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimee, Yvonne Furneaus, Megali Noel, Alain Cuny, Lex Barker, Riccardo Garrone, and Annibale Ninchi. 1961. DVD. Koch Vision, 2004.
• Killinger, Charles L. The History of Italy. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. Questia.com. 5 Mar. 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=101544720>

More papers on "La Dolce Vita":

• Analytical Essay # 132456 : "Marcelo in Fellini's "La Dolce Vita"
• Film Review # 102401 : "Marcello Rubini in Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita"."
• Comparison Essay # 15991 : "Cultural Differences in Europe"

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