Amarcord (1973)

Amarcord
Directed by Federico Fellini
Written by Federico Fellini and Tonino Guerra
1973/Italy
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Oliva: Uncle Teo’s up a tree!

I usually say 8 1/2 (1963) is my favorite Fellini film.  After rewatching this one, I’m not so sure.

The title means “I Remember” in the dialect of Rimini where Fellini grew up.  Fellini says the film is not autobiographical though some of the incidents come from his childhood.  If Rimini was anything like this is was full of some real “characters”!

Anyway, the film covers one year in teenager Titta’s (Bruno Zanin) life, beginning and ending with puffballs signaling Spring.  Titta lives in the countryside with his crazy parents, senile grandfather, and vain uncle.  The parents yell at each other non-stop.  In fact, this movie is full of loud, volatile Italians shouting at each other.

Mussolini is in power and this is mostly quite OK with the residents of Rimini, with the exception of Titta’s father.  

Titta and his chums are all at the height of teenage horniness and much bawdy comedy is milked from this fact.  The plot is highly episodic and each of the episodes are pretty wonderful.  The fantasy Mussolini parade and wedding; the nympho La Volpina; the busty tobacconist, town beauty Gradisca (Magali Noël) and her friends; Uncle Teo up in the tree; the town going out to gaze at the cruise ship; snow! – all of these are small gems.

This is the warmest and funniest of the Fellini films I’ve seen by far with nary a sign of introspection or dissatisfaction.  Even death is treated in a matter of fact way.  The movie just makes me feel good.  It’s fun to look at the world again through the eyes of a teenager. Fellini continues to prove himself a master at wrestling a great film from thousands of moving parts.  Highly recommended.

Amarcord was Oscar-nominated for Best Director and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.