Fellini: The Sixties

Perfect condition. Extremely well packaged. Must have for any Fellini fan.

"Fellini: The Sixties" by Manoah Bowman is a colossal homage to Federico Fellini. Supported by well-written text, the basis of the book is 150 glossy photographs(many full-page) struck from original negatives. Some have never been seen before. Very powerful, these images conjure up an artist who transferred his dreams, fears, memories, and passion into living motion picture magic. Magic. Today, we have Wes Anderson, but, perhaps, nothing like the Italian. "Fellini: The Sixties" focuses on one ten-year period of the genius. Here, among others, are "La Dolce Vita(1960)", his first great masterpiece, "8 1/2(1963)", a wandering fantasy about Fellini himself, who can't decide how to end the movie he is directing. Here also is "Fellini Satyricon(1969)", perhaps his finest work, a psychedelic color-fest; a crossroads of ancient venal Rome, and today's modern Eternal City. The book has a foreword by Anita Ekberg("He invented the word Paparazzi") and a comment by the lovely Barbara Steele. Roger Ebert sums it up: "I have heard theories that Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" is about the seven deadly sins, and takes place on the seven hills of Rome. But I never looked into them. That would reduce the movie to a crossword puzzle. I prefer it as an allegory, a cautionary tale of a man without a center. Fellini'shero is a gossip columnist, Marcello, who chronicles the 'sweet life' of aristocrats, second-rate movie stars, old playboys, and women. The role was played by Marcello Mastroianni. The two Marcellos--character and actor--flowed together into a handsome, weary, desperate man, who dreams of someday doing something good, but is trapped in a life of empty nights and lonely dawns". Federico Fellini died in 1993. He's gone now. No. No I'm wrong. He'll never be gone.

Turner Classic Movies' great, big, beautiful coffee-table book dedicated to the middle-period of Italian master director, Federico Fellini. A treasure of glossy full page photography of movie stills, behind the scenes, film stars, and posters etc. from some of cinema's greatest masterpieces, from La dolce vita (1960) - Fellini Satyricon (1969). Each film chronicled in this book is given it's own chapter, contains many quotes from Fellini and collaborators, and gives much insight into the productions and creative process, as well as capturing the glamour of an incredible bygone era. Although I do wish the essays were a bit more analytical and scholarly (Peter Bondarella's books are recommended for that), I still love this welcome addition to my bookshelf. This book will thrill any fan of Fellini's flamboyant masterworks and lovers of cinema. Pair this with Criterion Collection's phenomenal The Essential Fellini box set of his films for the perfect companion.

Present really liked

This superb book, recently released by TCM is the most outstanding illustrated book yet documenting the body of work of the late Italian writer and director, Federico Fellini. While it is not a biography, his body of films are chronicled and referenced through stunningly reproduced scene photographs, excerpted from the films. Many of his contemporaries have commented on his working style, as a director, in the form of memoirs about their associations. Speaking to the greatness of his body of work in Italian film, many would agree that his life and work was nothing less than a watershed, a point of reference, for the entire history of Italian film. Even as a quirky personality, his life has left an indelible mark on nothing less than the history of art in Italy, and this book, in many respects, shows why.