The Journeys of Fellini: Spaces, People, Film Styles

The motif of the journey provides an entry to Fellini’s oeuvre. In many of his films, characters roam the marginal spaces of the country (La strada), wander aimlessly through the city (La dolce vita), get stuck in traffic or go around in circles (8½). Moving between Italy’s provinces and its capital, or between the past and the present, Fellini dives into the unconscious and the chaos of creation. Other trajectories are shaped by his real-life encounters: with actors, screenwriters, producers, composers. This lecture will sketch an imaginary map, attempting to introduce and guide us through the multiple territories inhabited by Fellini’s cinema.