Antibiotici e Fellini

Ciao tutti,

Yesterday I went to the doctor and found out that the headaches I've been having for the past few weeks were sinus headaches, and now I essentially have a sinus infection. Needless to say, I got a few tubes of some strong medicine, changed into my jammies, and cozied up with tea and Netflix for the rest of Saturday.

8 1/2 (1963) is one of those Italian movies I've always wanted to watch, but was terrified to attempt without ever having been a film history student. Then when Nine (2009) came out a few months ago, I figured I should watch the original before the (psuedo-)remake. I wasn't expecting to understand it, or comment on it in any way, and I was going to kind of pretend I'd never seen it in case someone might approach me to discuss "il genio di Fellini"... or something.

But I have to say, I think I got it. I really did. I'm not going to articulate (surprise!), but if you go into this film with the notion of: I'm pretty sure this is out of my league, what the hell am I doing? You'll actuallybe pretty relieved at the accessibility and relatibility of the recurring themes and main characters (all of whom you're supposed to adore - at least I did).

I'll show you a clip of one of my favorite scenes. Guido, the main character, is being visited by his wife, Luisa, and her friend, Rossella, at the spa/resort, where he is residing for a time, to relax. Carla, Guido's mistress, shows up unexpectedly, and is seen and observed by all three. Luisa knows what's up, and starts hissing at her husband. Up until this scene, she's been reserved and silently accepting of Guido's unfaithful behavior, which kind of pissed me off. But now she really lets him have it, and you don't have to understand Italian to know what's going on.

The thing is... I really like Carla (sigh).

The scene progresses into a hillarious fanatsy where Guido lives happily with all the women of his life, in one house. Wife and mistresses embrace each other as friends and family. IT'S SO FUNNY! (Feminist friends: the key to not be offended by this sequence is to remember that Guido is the weak and inadequate male character that brings these strong and capable women together in "unreality"). Enjoy.