8½
Probably Fellini’s most acclaimed work. This tale of a harried filmmaker retreating into memories and fantasies strikes the perfect balance between fantasy and reality.
Troubled Italian filmmaker Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni) struggles with creative stasis 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. The result is a dazzling array of themes and images which make 8 1/2 the quintessential Fellini movie as well as the most potent movie about filmmaking.