Fellini: The Sixties

by Manoah Bowman

Fellini: The Sixties is an awe-inspiring, photo-filled homage to the signature work of Italy’s most celebrated filmmaker, Federico Fellini.
Style, beauty, passion, vision. All of these words describe the films of one of the most important filmmakers the world has ever known—Federico Fellini. Fifty years since their initial release, his films of the 1960s still inspire, shock, and delight. Their impeccable style makes them timeless. Their beauty makes them unforgettable. Their passion makes them feel alive. And their singular vision makes them unique in all of cinema.
For the first time, carefully selected imagery from all of Fellini’s films of the 1960s will be showcased. This was the director’s most iconic and representative decade, a time in which he made classics such as 8 ½, La Dolce Vita, Juliet of the Spirits, and Satyricon. Filled with hundreds of never-before-seen or published photographs—and featuring an extensive interview with La Dolce Vita star Anita Ekberg, Fellini: The Sixties is a remarkable compendium of a legendary filmmaker’s greatest work.

Genres: Film, Art, Italy, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2015

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the male protagonists wear suits and the leading women have rigid hair styles and evening gowns, these films are the beginning of a freer cinema. The sophisticates create their own dialog as they are spliced in with circus and night club performers, priests, beach parades, antiquities and other random characters and settings.

These photos remind the reader how much Fellini’s films are wed to their time and place. The images stand in contrast to those of fascism which had gripped Italy for two generations not too long before. They also contrast to the casual/no style that Fellini’s US fans were evolving.

The text includes an introduction by Anita Ekberg, and quotations from Roger Ebert, Bob Dylan, Terrance Stamp and many others. Author/compiler Manoah Bowman writes on the content and technical aspects of the films. Like most coffee table books, the text is overshadowed by the photos. The photos are plentiful and give a good feel for the films on their own, as well as with the text.

I’m not sure how or if today’s young people relate to Fellini’s movies. I wonder how his oeuvre will be viewed in the future. Will future generations appreciate the leap these films make from all that had come before? Will they dwell on their rambling nature and the gratuitous sexuality (and sex)?

The book seems to capture this time, a mostly b&w time, of experimentation in cinema.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

gorgeous huge book. visual feast.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book from our wonderful local library. I had asked back in July if there was any chance they could get this book in and voila it arrived a couple of weeks ago. There are a handful of essays by friends and associates of the great director: a heartfelt introduction from Anita Ekberg, and an afterword by Barbara Steele. The text sheds additional light onto the 6 films Fellini made in the 60's including his greatest: La Dolce Vita that still today influences fashions. The book is mostly photographs, stills and candid shots from each production and they are wonderful. It has made me want to watch all these films, some of them again after a long absence. For lovers of great cinema.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book about Fellini, the Italian film director, and I thought the text was more interesting than the photos although there are a lot of them. The photos reminded me of Fellini's films, big, gaudy, and garish looking, but the films worked better than the photos in this book. However this is undoubtedly a fine book for any Fellini fans.

[patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must-look for Fellinis fans -- many stunning never-before-seen photographs. Other than the remarkable photos and pieces written by Anita Ekberg and Barbara Steele, nothing new of note in the content.