8 ½

"I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same."

It’s just a coincidence that I recently saw 'Wicker Park' which has a funny reference to Federico Fellini’s masterpiece 8 ½ as it happens to the shoe size of the leading lady in the movie. Josh Hartnett, who plays the lead, cracks an intended non-funny joke linking the shoe-size to Fellini. Just a day and a half later, I got my hands on Fellini’s movie.

According to the way I understand the concept of surrealism, I would call this movie a surrealistic expedition. Well, those of you who are familiar with the movie would know that the title comes from the number of movies that Fellini had directed till then. This movie was supposed be his 8 1/2 th movie.

I, as usual, would not delve into the story of the movie as that would be a complete injustice to it. The only thing I can say is that it is a semi autobiographical movie based on the “life” of a director and the movie project that he has currently undertaken.

The opening scene where the spirit leaves the cocooned and claustrophobic car to reach the sky and then to be pulled down again is enough to make you sit back and absorb the screen.

The construction and narration of the movie are a part of each other and are inseparable. The movie flows backward, forward and into the subconscious and sometimes into the really deep dark worlds. There are themes of personal conflicts, people that the director is associated with, spirituality and vague and distinct childhood memories.

After a long time, I have watched a movie which has left an indelible mark on me. I really fell in love with it. Must watch.

"And how do you benefit from stringing together the tattered pieces of your life? Your vague memories, the faces of people that you were never able to love..."