WHEN IN ROME… In late-1950s Rome, over seven days and nights, cynical showbiz columnist Marcello Rubina (Marcello Mastroianni) has his eyes opened to his soulless existence as he drifts from one wild party to another in Rome's amoral high society. His affair with Maddalena (Anouk Aimée) causes his fiancée Emma (Yvonne Furneaux) to attempt suicide, he accompanies a film starlet (Anouk Aimée) to St Peter's where she dresses as a priest, he awaits an abortive miracle, and takes his ailing father to a nightclub... But as Marcello’s crazy carousel ride spins out of control, will he ever find the answers he’s so desperately looking for?
THE LOWDOWN Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (aka The Sweet Life) is one of the most influential movies of all time and one of the most notorious films to emerge from 1960s world cinema. While time has rendered it less so, it has lost none of its power to delight, and that's down to Fellini's delirious visuals, which have become part of contemporary culture, inspiring legions of film directors, from Woody Allen to Paolo Sorrentino – whose Oscar-winning The Great Beauty is its brilliant offspring - as well as musical artists like Bob Dylan and Blondie. It even gave us the term ‘paparazzi’. A soaking wet Anita Ekberg in a strapless black gown in the Trevi fountain and a statue of Christ hanging from a helicopter are two of the most iconic images in this comically caustic tour through the empty pleasures of modern life which is a must-have in any serious world cinema collection.
While Fellini’s Palme d’Or and Oscar-winning masterpiece should really be seen on the big screen, watching it on Blu-ray is the next best thing. The legendary director's immortal images are simply luminous, while Nino Rota’s Grammy nominated score is a perfect match to Fellini’s vivid imaginings. Future Andy Warhol superstar Nico plays herself in the 6th night sequence, while one-time TV Tarzan Lex Barker plays Ekberg’s fiancé.
THE UK BLU-RAY RELEASE http://youtube.com/v/lHpCgL4jZZU
