1960, Film: "La Dolce Vita"

The Italian comedy-drama "La Dolce Vita" (English: "The Sweet Life") premièred on February 5, 1960. The black-and-white film, written and directed by Federico Fellini, tells the story of a journalist's week in Rome, and his search for happiness and love. The storyline of the film can be divided into a prologue, seven major episodes interrupted by an intermezzo, and an epilogue.

Synopsis
Journalist and man-about-town Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles to find his place in the world, torn between the allure of Rome's elite social scene and the stifling domesticity offered by his girlfriend, all the while searching for a way to become a serious writer.


Anouk Aimée and Marcello Mastroianni

The seven principal episodes in the film:

1. Evening with Maddalena (Anouk Aimée) / Dawn with his overdosed fiancée Emma (Yvonne Furneaux)
2. Day and evening with the American actress Sylvia (Anita Ekberg), ending in the Trevi fountain at dawn
3. Reunion with his intellectual friend Steiner (Alain Cuny); the story is divided into three sequences spread over the entire film: a) the encounter, b) Steiner's party, and c) Steiner's tragedy
4. Day with his photographer friend Paparazzo (Walter Santesso) and Emma to the outskirts of Rome to cover the story of a sighting of the Madonna by two children
5. Meeting with his father (Annibale Ninchi)
6. The aristocrat's party/Steiner's tragedy
7. The "orgy" at the beach house

Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg

Main Cast

• Marcello Mastroianni as Marcello Rubini
• Anita Ekberg as Sylvia
• Anouk Aimée as Maddalena
• Yvonne Furneaux as Emma
• Magali Noël as Fanny
• Alain Cuny as Steiner
• Nadia Gray as Nadia
• Annibale Ninchi as Marcello's father
• Walter Santesso as Paparazzo
• Valeria Ciangottini as Paola

Marcello Mastroianni and Yvonne Furneaux

Awards

• Cannes Film Festival, Palme d'Or for Federico Fellini (1960)
• David di Donatello Awards, David for Best Director (Migliore Regista): Federico Fellini (1960)
• National Board of Review, USA, NBR Award for Top Foreign Film (1961)
• New York Film Critics Circle Awards, NYFCC Award for Best Foreign Language Film (1961)
• Academy Awards, USA, Oscar for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White: Piero Gherardi (1962)

Trailer