Hi all,
I hope you have enjoyed watching 8 1/2! What a messy, complicated masterpiece! If you have watched it, please join me at 2 pm ET tomorrow (Saturday, July 6th) via THIS ZOOM LINK. Here is my newsletter on the film. Do not worry if you have not had time to watch it before the conversation!
Here are some fun resources about the film and the filmmaker.
But let’s start with the STAR: “Marcello Mastroianni’s Guide to Being Cool”!
HERE is a retrospective of Fellini’s career in The New Yorker.
BELOW you will find interviews with directors Martin Scorsese and Terry Gilliam about Fellini.
BELOW you will find an interview with Fellini (on the set of the film) and a second video with a few more comments from the director on his work:
LAST but not least, enjoy this clever homage to the end of 8 1/2 from The Simpsons!
NEXT WEEK:
Next week’s film will be Crimes and Misdemeanors! It can be found on YOUTUBE or via your local library.
I am repasting my former comments on the ethical dilemma of watching Woody Allen films below:
*I want to be careful not to ignore the bleak, perverse realities of director Woody Allen’s own personal life. Allen has been accused of sexual assault by his adopted daughter. He is married to his stepdaughter. Many of these actions and (credible) accusations are depraved, morally reprehensible, horrific. I will not sugarcoat that.
This leads us to a complex question: should we engage in art created by someone who is an abuser? We could have a lengthy conversation on this topic alone.
I have clearly chosen to separate the art from the artist in the case of Woody Allen. I still watch his movies. But I totally understand why anyone would choose NOT to. Although I love many of Allen’s movies, I will never again watch Manhattan, a film that, in hindsight, appears to be autobiographical.
Perhaps we can have some of this conversation in discussing the chosen Allen film. Of course, I respect the choice of anyone who wants to refrain from watching an Allen film.
Here are some varying perspectives on the question:
Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this week's discussion (my mom came to visit!), but I'll be excited to hear what everyone has to say once it's posted!