8 1/2 + La Strada (Aug 5)

DOUBLE FEATURE! Join us for a festival of Fellini as two essentials from the Italian master return to the silver screen.

Regarded by many as Federico Fellini’s crowning achievement, 8 ½ is a semi-autobiographical dreamscape of the life of a troubled Italian filmmaker as he attempts to get a new movie off the ground. Overwhelmed by his work and personal life, the director retreats into his thoughts, which often focus on his loves, both past and present, and frequently wander into fantastical territory. As he tries to sort out his many entanglements, romantic and otherwise, Anselmi finds his production becoming more and more autobiographical.

Winner of the first Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, LA STRADA sees Fellini in fine form. When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.

Italian language, English subtitles.

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• This September, 30th September, 08:50 am, Twilight + New Moon: 20th Anniversary Gala Screening in Melbourne

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