All language subtitles for Che Strano Chiamarsi Federico (2013) DVDrip Italian x264 Ac3 -Shiv@-eng

I, in my eyes,
walk through the branches.

The branches walk on the river.

They reach a thousand
essential things.

They are refrains of refrains.

Among the reeds and the late evening,

how strange to be named Federico!

"How strange to be named Federico"
Scola narrates Fellini

Auditions

It's 1939

and this young student
from Rimini has come to Rome

dreaming to work
for the legendary Marc'A urelio,

the unconventional political
satire magazine

that made entire generations laugh.

He's 20.

Actually, 19 to be precise,
he was born in 1920.

There he is, ringing the doorbell
of the Marc'A urelio editorial office.

Hello, my name is Federico Fellini.

I've written to Mr De Bellis
and I'd like to meet him.

- Come in.
- Thank you.

- Follow me.
- Thank you.

I have to... yes, yes, yes.

You're hanging up?
Should I hang up?

No, come on.
Should I hang up?

Should I?

Bye, bye. Talk later.

Good morning, hello.

You wrote me from Rimini.

From Rimini, yes.

Beautiful seaside town.

I won
the boxing championships there.

1932,
Year 10 of the Fascist Era.

What have you got for me?

Here, have a look.

This is funny.

This one's very funny too.

I also have some short stories.

- Lovely, you draw and write.
- I do both.

Verba volant, signa manent.

Come with me.

L'll show you
Marc'A urelio's think tank.

"Through me among the people
that are lost. "

We'll entrust these to Steno,
our head writer.

This young man
has stories and drawings.

Have a look and let me know.

Young athletes, this is Federico.

Hello, everyone.

- Emperor Federico in Coma!
- Instead of in Como...

The Ministry just called
about your Hermetic Roet article.

"One can rave about a pale olive".

- Wasn't it funny?
- Not to them.

Not to me either, honestly.

A Hermetic poet was nominated
National Academic of Italy

and they interpreted it as mockery.

- They said "mockery"?
- Meaning "taking the piss".

The Ministry is not as dense
as we thought!

So now they want to read
everything before it's published.

Listen to this one for the 'centre'
Title: Clairvoyance.

"Winston Churchill
asks a fortune teller:

- Can you read the future?
- Yes, Your Excellency.

Then keep quiet!"

- It's not funny.
- It is.

The 'centre' is the cartoon
in the middle of the front page.

And the chosen one
gets paid double.

- Hi, I'm Ruggero.
- Federico, it's a pleasure.

Stop everyone!
I've got the centre!

Wonderful.

Title: English Pilot in the Theatre.

"That William Tell
is really an idiot:

He hit the apple instead of the kid. "

- Not funny.
- L'll explain.

Since English pilots
never hit their target...

I see, now I get it.

- Well?
- Not funny.

- You're not funny!
- Calm down.

It's not centre material,
somewhere else perhaps.

- On page seven.
- Marc'A urelio only has six.

Boss...

- What is it? The centre?
- Not really the centre.

Just keep up thejokes!

Last month,

Ciano made a surprise visit
to the "Travaso" office.

Minister Galeazzo Ciano!

- Did you know that?
- Shhh, Ciano, Ciano!

Keep joking!
L'll be the one interned, not you.

Come on, Vito.
We're all more than aware.

And perhaps in despair...

but we will beware and take care.

What can these two say?

Thigh me a river.

No really, what can they say?

One says: "Your husband
doesn't make you jealous?"

The other says:
"He only cheats on me for money. "

- Title: The Gangster's Wife.
- There are no gangsters in Italy.

Change it to:
The Wives of New York.

- Yes, but it's still not funny.
- Why not? Explain your comment.

- Because it's crap.
- I see.

Title: A picnic breakfast.

- Is that Attalo?
- Yes, it is.

"Miss, I can see your panties!
That's impossible.

Yes, they're sticking out of
that man's pocket!"

I like that one.

How about this. At the beach:

"Miss, why don't we have
a swim together?"

"Sure, in the deep where
we can't touch. "

"Never mind then. What's the point?"

English ships: "Hurry, let's launch it
between one torpedo and another. "

- Not funny.
- Listen to young Federico's comic:

Argument in the tram.
A distinguished gentleman:

"You have no idea who I am.

Another man: Quiet, everyone!
He's going to tell us who he is. "

- It's not funny.
- No.

- It's not funny.
- Let's try another one.

The 'powestion' of suggestion.

- What's that, Miss Sue?
- Carrots and 'celerue'

- Good.
- Nice.

- Was that one good?
- Bad.

Give me your opinion on this tale,
brand new.

- Did you write this one?
- I did.

"August: In the military barracks... "

- Ok, but is it funny?
- No, it's quite dismal.

Then we don't need it.
Laughter is our game...

We are silly here, young man.

We want people to cry
from laughing.

A story about a bathroom urgency?

- That's funny.
- Shit is always funny.

This one is entitled:
"Are you even listening to me?"

It's a weekly column. I address
someone different every week.

A policeman,
a waitress, a model...

The kid's pushing it.

"Are you even listening to me,
public bathhouse cashier?"

Attalo, the toilet philosopher,
could draw it!

The toilet is his kingdom.

You should see his friends...
straight out of a Lombroso book!

Sketches, jokes, and witticism
of varied and motley humanity.

Ladies and Knights Aberrant...

Hear them, sir? And they get paid!

Hush up. Let me read.

"I'm talking to you, cashier.

"I'm talking to you, cashier.

When I run over to your desk,

gritting my teeth,
drops of sweat on my forehead,

there's a man speaking slowly.

So, kind lady,

would a hot shower at my age
be harmful to me?

Not at all, sir.

Our facilities are regulated
to the body's temperature.

Are they now?
Could you explain that?

It's at 36.5 degrees,

human body temperature
in normal conditions.

So I won't feel
any change in temperature.

- Thank you, I'll be back tomorrow.
- Goodbye.

What can I offer you?

Loo.

Rardon me, sir?
What did you say?

- Loo.
- What? Queue?

A bath with aromatic oils
and a little milk!

Straight away.

Is there a toilet...

- Manicure. I only pay half.
- Why?

I would like
a powder puff treatment.

Straight away.

Thank you.

A Turkish bath
with hydrating massage!

Straight away.

Of course.

- Enjoy.
- Thank you.

- A nice refreshing shower.
- Fresh, very fresh.

- Thank you, good day.
- Good day.

Hello, an express
weight loss treatment.

Well, sir?

Why are you doing this, cruel girl?
You're so beautiful,

your eyes glitter
and I'll fall in love with you.

L'll walk in here calmly,
go up to your desk

and you won't ask what I want
because you'll know.

But now I'm talking to you,
are you even listening to me?

Well, sir?

Well?

A shave! A nice shave
with potassium alum.

Perfect.

- Straight away.
- Thank you.

And I'll fall in love with you.
L'll walk in here calmly.

One of Marc'A urelio's
300,000 readers

was Scola's grandfather,
Rietro

who was blind and
had his grandson read it to him.

Here is Ettore at age 9, who read
his grandfather historical fiction,

biographies and Napoleon's memoirs.

Luckily on Wednesday and Saturday
Marc'A urelio came out, a rare moment

of escape and entertainment
in these times of war.

And today is his first
encounter with Fellini.

"He hesitates then bursts out:
A nice shave with potassium alum. "

What's potassium alum,
Grandfather?

An astringent that barbers use.

Does he poop his pants?

One can assume.

What's the title?

"Are you even listening to me?"
By Federico.

He must be new.

Shall I read
"Decio and Lucio" to you?

Later. The news is on now.

But you did a very fine job
today reading.

War bulletin number 262.

On the Greek front,
patrol and artillery activity.

Our troops have efficiently bombed
military targets,

streets, bridges
and enemy hideouts.

Our planes have shot down
five Gloster planes in enemy battles.

In Italian East Africa in Giarabub...

In Italian East Africa in Giarabub...

Today is a grand day.

His Excellency Ettore Muti
is paying us a visit.

These are the young athletes
of our magazine

that informs, amuses,
and is good luck.

Gioacchino Colizzi, a. k.a. Attalo:

"Genoveffa the Ugly",
"Blabbermouth Dandy".

Giovanni Mosca:
"Heart" and "School Memories".

Vittorio Metz:
"Ilario the Anti-literary".

Marcello Marchesi:
"Decio and Lucio".

Mameli Barbara:
"Ladies who know what's what".

Stefano Vanzina a. k.a. Steno:
"The Herculean".

Ruggero Maccari: "Giggi the Bully".

Enrico De Seta:
"Bac� the Magician".

Ferrante Alvaro De Torres:
"Orange you glad?"

Federico Fellini: "High School",
"Are you even listening to me?"

Of course I'm listening,
Camerata Fellini.

And you should cut your hair!

- Steno...
- What?

- You jackass!
- You think?

Perfect, I think we did fine.

You, Fellini,
could have said a different title.

I only have two.
What was I to say?

No bloody way I was
wearing a black shirt.

Right, we're really
a bunch of heroes.

You don't have this problem.

Instead of a black shirt,
you just wear a dirty one.

- Funny comedian!
- Back to work.

The manly youth

With Roman will,
we'll fight!

That day will come when

The great mother of the heroes
will call us

For the Duce, for the Nation,
for the King.

We will give you
an empire overseas!

That day will come when

The great mother of the heroes
will call us.

Why didn't you do the Roman salute?

I didn't know it was obligatory.
I'm not into politics.

Then why did you reportedly say:

"If Mussolini keeps this up,
I just don't know... "

What did you mean?

What did you mean by
"I just don't know"?

- A threat?
- A threat?

- A mistrust of fascism?
- A mistrust of fascism?

- Or subversive propaganda?
- Or subversive propaganda?

I don't remember saying that
or maybe I said...

Glare at me.

Maybe I said I just don't know
how politics works.

Put down your cigarette.

And you don't even know about
the gramophone?

What gramophone?

My God, how can one be like that...

If you don't remember the lines,
say the numbers.

7, 8, 9...

25, 26, 27, 28, 29...

With constant scorn!

30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35!

What sweet bums!

What a big, sexy woman!

When publishing tomfoolery,
controversy and satire,

a deep sense of trust
develops among workers.

And strong friendships can arise.

Like that between Fellini
and Ruggero Maccari

who began writing for the radio too

and for theatre.

In fact, here we are
in a small theatre

where "Faville d'amore"
by Mac and Fed is playing.

An elderly person
goes to the doctor and says

"Doc, this leg really hurts,
I get spasms,

incredible pain.

Doc, what could it be?

It's old age.

But the other one is the same age
and it doesn't hurt. "

I wrote that piece.

- It's really nice.
- Do you like it?

Ruggero is good too, you know.

He writes for Aldo Fabrizi,
the famous Roman comedian.

- Really? I like him.
- He's great.

Like that one?
I have another, it's shorter.

The doctor comes back
the next day.

"Well, I can see
you're coughing much better today.

Of course,
I practiced all night. "

Two women meet,
one says: "How are you?"

"Not bad. How's your husband?"

"My husband's dead. "
"I'm so sorry. "

"And yours?"
"He's fine, touch wood. "

"My husband touched wood too,
in his coffin. "

You really are good.

Ladies and gentlemen,
now it's time for the sketch.

- Get lost!
- We've had enough!

Get a job!

For three years
I bore what you did.

I was in love
and knelt before you.

I was foolish and didn't see

that in the world existed

a girl with more charm
more plump...

You're wanted on the phone!

...and more blump than you.

You missed your chance
now eat this!

You're wanted on the phone!

Where will you find
a chap like me?

This girl I found... "

What's happening?

- What did you write?
- You wrote it.

You corrected it.
You've caused a riot here...

This isn't a shooting range!

This is your wife's fur,
give it back to her!

Let's go girls.

Should we leave
or wait for the cuckold number?

- Let's go!
- It's probably best.

We're leaving?

The cuckold number you wrote
is even worse.

- I wrote?
- You wrote it.

Two nights ago
it went completely different.

They shined the spotlight on me
and they applauded

to pay homage to me
all alone in the room.

With no witnesses,
you can say anything.

- The stalls were full.
- Right, full of liars!

Scola knocked on that same door

8 years after Federico.

Even the messenger was the same

and had the same clothes pins
on his trousers.

Boss?

Boss?

There's a guy here called 'Scuola'.

Hello.

Smart tie!

- How old are you?
- Sixteen.

- Are you studying?
- I'm in high school.

We had a column entitled that.

- Yes, I know.
- Do you?

- Fellini wrote it.
- Yes, I know.

- You know that too.
- I never missed an issue.

So you also know we're working on
bringing Marc'A urelio back to life.

After five years of silence

we're bringing it back
to our readers.

You know that as well.
Good!

You could really grow here.
Show me what you have.

"Brief encounter"

"Smile, please"

This is funny.

"The psychic: You are a boxer"

This too, very funny.

Hello?

Hi, how are you?

Fine, fine, yes.

One second.

Maccari!

I'm giving you to our head writer.

Boss?

This young athlete
has brought some drawings.

Take care of him.

The door...

Yes, dear.

You call, then you don't...
I never know!

Go with Maccari!

Come over here...

As you can see,
he had a business call.

You're a good drawer.

- Steinberg style.
- I wish!

I can't even hold onto a pencil.

But you're good with a pen.
You make us laugh, cry...

I inform and bring fortune.
Do you write?

I try.

I have a running story.
"The Adventures of Casa Nostra".

Instead of "The Adventures
of Casanova". Nice idea.

What is it?

A family sitting together at lunch
and the father only uses clich�s.

This house is not a hotel,

when he was their age he walked,
there were no bikes,

he treated his parents
with respect...

Fine, bring it in.

Staff meeting every Tuesday
and Friday from 10 to 2.

How can you manage with school?

My school is
at Santa Maria Maggiore.

I get out at 12:30
and can be here in ten minutes.

Nights I'm in printing.
You could come with.

Sure.

- You spit in it! Admit it!
- Me? I don't even spit!

Can you believe it?

This young man contributed
to the revival of the Marc'A urelio

and the writing of the first issue
of the new edition...

Can you give me a hand?

...that will be in newsstands
on March 16, 1948,

on the eve of the elections

which will see the defeat of
the Socialist and Communist Front

and the overwhelming victory
of the Christian Democrats.

L'll have an 'Ink Brul�'
I have to write flaming words.

Metz is here!

We've even got
a mascot this time round.

He's Scola, he's working with us.

Your name's Scola?

Here's a song to the tune of "Lola".

Scola,
what are you learning in school?

You know nothing
about Charleston.

You know nothing
about tormenton!

Tormenton is a joke,
it's a word that gets repeated.

It's supposed to be funny.

You can't use tormenton
instead of Charleston.

Why?
Same number of syllables.

But you've already changed
Lola to Scola.

In wordplays,
you can only change one thing.

You have to decide:
Lola or Charleston.

Keep Lola, trust me.

Didn't you once write:
Who's been Reking the China?

That had two changes in it.

We can consider that
an award allowance.

You always do what you want.

Young athletes,
how far have you got?

I'vejust talked to the manager

and they've decided on
the issue price: 20 liras.

Who will spend that much!
It used to be 60 cents!

Five years ago.
There's been a war in the meantime.

- Really? Attalo didn't notice.
- Any ideas for the centre?

Yes, Macario interviewed
with his dancers.

"And you, Mr Macario,
aren't you in the next elections?

No, I already play a clown on stage. "

- L'll draw the dancers.
- No, it's too explicit.

It's subtle.

Never mind, we'll use it
in "The Boy of the Golden West".

Stealing lines from the magazine
for your screenplays?

- No.
- They're my lines!

Yes, but in "The Two Orphans",
Tot� says my lines.

Don't exaggerate!

How many films
are you writing now, ten?

Four at the most... Six.

Metz and Marchesi are
the two main scriptwriters

for Italian comedic films,
together they write for

Macario, Tot�,
Nino Taranto, Walter Chiari...

Soon they will hire Scola
as their ghostwriter.

An anonymous collaborator

whose task is to add lines,
gags and jokes to their films:

"Tot� Tarzan", "Tot� the Sheik",
Tot� le Mok�", etc.

Like they did with young Fellini,

who was their ghostwriter
in Macario's films:

"Lo Vedi Come Sei",
"Imputato Alzatevi",

"II Pirata Sono lo!"...

Age and Scarpelli
now work at Marc'A urelio too.

They were also ghostwriters
for Metz and Marchesi.

Any other ideas?

There's your average Italian man,
poor and discouraged,

sitting on the ground in front of
posters, writings, insults,

smelly people,
panderers, curses, brutes,

excessive prices,
shoes for 12,000 liras...

Then Marco Aurelio
comes by on horseback.

He looks at the Italian and says:

Making them laugh
won't be easy now!

Nice!

- What does this say?
- No, this isn't good enough.

Read it, read it.

A boy is calling out to his family:

Come see Grandfather
take his last steps!

- Nice, too bitter though.
- I like it. L'll draw it.

The centre has to do
with current affairs.

I need a "Blabbermouth Dandy"
and a "Genoveffa the Ugly".

I have one for Dandy.

He doesn't write them himself?

Him? Have you looked at him?

Just keep taking the piss...

The Blabbermouth Dandy says:

"I saw Traviata
at the opera yesterday. "

We see him looking through
the key-hole at a hotel

watching a prostitute
perform her duties.

- Not funny. It's childish.
- No, no, it's good.

Then I add a cartoon:
"Hurry up, you can't take all night. "

I have a very ugly Genoveffa.

Genoveffa is ugly.

No, I mean the joke is ugly!

Genoveffa says: "Honey, how will
my chambers be in our new home?"

- He says: "Gas chambers!"
- L'll take it.

- I've got a Bac� the Magician.
- Okay.

The husband says to the wife:
"Leave me alone with my thoughts. "

Then Bac� the Magician makes
his thoughts visible:

...a crowd of naked women.
- It's good.

Done!

Title: The Return.
The editorial of the first issue.

Tell me if it's too rhetorical.

"We're back again. Determined
to tell the truth at any cost,

to defend the average citizen,
to recognise worker's rights,

to support the farmer
and finally tell him

how good cheese is with pears. "

It's Federico!
Come and see the car he's got!

- Federico! Damn you!
- Look who's back from the dead!

- You're loaded rich!
- Where did you buy that?

Come down and we'll take a spin.

Let's go!

Hey, pal!

Nice, look at that car.

- Can we all fit?
- There's a living room in here!

Where's the bedroom?

Take me to Via Merulana 78.

I should have worn a tux.

Follow that car, quick!

This is the legendary Theatre 5
in Cinecitt�.

Fellini's home, where all
of his greatest movies were filmed.

Almost all.

In this theatre, the Maestro
built cities,

railway stations, stormy seas...

And fascinated millions of viewers
worldwide

Not going for a spin with Fellini?

No, I don't know him.
But he's nice.

Now he's into cinema...

After this first encounter
from a distance,

Fellini's and Scola's paths
will meet again.

Rerhaps Federico enjoyed
finding some similarities

from his life history
in this fine young man.

Fellini arrived in Rome
from Rimini at 19 years old

and Scola came from Trevico
when he was five.

They both had a passion for drawing,

figures and cartoons.

They both grew up with
the same comic books:

Felix the Cat, The Katzenjammer Kids,
Bringing Up Father,

Professor Lambicchi...

Well, I can't list them all.

They also had in common...

an obsessive avoidance
of all physical activity:

Neither of them
ever kicked a football,

were interested in
a championship,

nor could they swim.

This was worse for Federico
who grew up by the sea

than for Ettore who was born
1,100 meters above sea level,

the highest point
of the Apennines in Campania.

And they were both
good friends with Ruggero Maccari

who Scola would then partner with,

writing 70 screenplays together

for directors like
Mattoli, Steno, Zampa,

Risi, Pietrangeli...

Here are Ettore, Federico
and Ruggero late-nighting in a bar.

I was on the radio
this morning with Alberto.

Vittorio Veltroni's show.
He says he knows you well.

Of course... Vittorio.
From "Cico e Rallina" with Giulietta.

What did you bring him?

Alberto Sordi's skit.

- Is it funny? As Metz always asks.
- Hope so.

Me too, I want Alberto to star
in "The White Sheik".

But the producer doesn't want him,
he says he's not funny.

It's good you're doing cinema,
writing isn't your thing.

Listen to this review
of "Variety Lights".

Here goes.

"Badly written by Federico Fellini,
who even wrote with Amidei

"Rome, Open City"
and "Paisan" for Rossellini,

this Lattuada film gives you
the impression it was improvised".

You're making that up.

My name isn't Federico.
Here, read it.

Who is this guy?

Oh! Lanocita...

The same one who praised

Steno and Monicelli's
"A Dog's Life" last week.

Screenplay by Ruggero Maccari.

Don't rub it in, Ettore...

I'm not.
Box office success proves nothing.

But it makes you money.

Since you've had box office success,
go and pay the bill.

As usual! I'm going...

Go, go...

He pays the bill
so he can hit on the cashier.

That's why he always takes us here.

As soon as she leaves,
he'll say he's tired

and has to leave,
then he waits on Via Bissolati

and gives her a lift home...

So tell me about
Alberto Sordi's piece.

Do you know
"Countess Clara agony aunt"

and "Maria Pia's advice column"?

We're doing a parody.
Count Claro and Mario Rio.

Alberto is playing a pathetic loser

who tries to rip off
his callers every time...

- I'm leaving. Goodnight.
- Goodnight.

...by stealing their heredity,
a jacket or a loaf of bread.

Nice!

Well, I'm off.

See you tomorrow at 4 at my place.

- On time, got it?
- I'm always on time.

Why?
What are you writing together?

A film for Mattoli.
Goodnight.

- Is it funny? Tell me.
- Tell him about it.

"Two Nights with Cleopatra",

fictional historical comedy
with Sordi and Sophia Loren.

Goodnight.

Don't leave.
What's the hurry?

There's no hurry.
Goodnight.

I'm going home too.
I have a Law exam tomorrow.

L'll give you a lift, so you can
tell me about the magazine.

How are the meetings? And Metz?

- Everything was always his idea...
- Always fighting for the centre...

Fellini loved driving
and he treated his insomnia

by taking his friends out
in turns for night-time drives:

True and tried kidnappings.

He'd pick up drunks,
compulsive liars, dethroned princes,

and even a few streetwalkers...

out of curiosity, out of
an uncontrollable love for life.

And with him, that car became
a confessional booth.

Life was a party, he loved to say,

so why not live
each moment as one?

Hi, honey.

Looking for me?

Want some company?

Still driving around so late?

Just a night-time drive.
Would you like to join?

- As long as you pay.
- Of course!

I'm going with these two gentlemen,
ending the night in style!

L'll call you tomorrow.
Goodnight.

- Bye.
- Bye, Mona Lisa...

Good evening.

You got lucky.

This is my last night.
My farewell to the business.

And why are you retiring
so prematurely?

Thanks for saying "prematurely"...
I'm moving to Senigallia.

Rome is stressful. Too many seagulls.
Too much of everything.

Oscar and I
are buying a little house...

I got picked up
by a couple the other night too.

They were two aristocrats
in some existential crisis.

Their car was as big as a house.

She was very elegant,
a Shubert dress.

I thought they wanted a threesome
but once we got to my house,

I started making them coffee
and they went into the bedroom.

They wanted the experience
of having sex in a prostitute's bed.

I'm a sort of psychologist,
I even did 2 months of therapy.

And you two...
I've already figured it out.

You're two intellectuals
in search of inspiration...

Anyway, two hours and they paid
my rent for the month.

I was completely broke

after I sent Oscar to pay
for the deed in Ancona.

Three bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a garden,

and a fountain with a dolphin
that shoots water out.

Just like I always dreamt.

- What did you dream?
- A house with a sea view.

I lived there with Oscar
and a bunch of kids.

But they didn't look like Oscar,
they were all blonde.

They looked more like Duilio, my
previous boyfriend, who dumped me.

Never mind.

Nice dream! Do you dream a lot?

Always, but I never remember them.

Write them down straight away.

I even make little drawings of them.

Right.

What was I talking about?
The deed for the house.

I would have gone to sign it,

but I didn't want to miss work.

So I just withdrew all of
my savings and gave it to Oscar.

He was supposed to come back
Tuesday. What's today?

Friday.

Something must have happened.

He could have called.

Maybe he called me at home.
I've been out since 7:00.

- Maybe he's already back.
- It's probable.

You're very kind.
But I don't think "it's probable".

It doesn't matter,
I keep on believing it.

I'm in love!

And for us women, love is everything.

Then comes sex.

The opposite to you men!

Women really are an unknown planet,

something men really want to be with
in order to find

a sense of complementarity,
sphericity, integrity, wholeness

and that is exactly

the part of oneself
that is ignored and is dark.

Sure, sure it is.

Otherwise how do you explain
this constant ravishment?

A woman we notice in a bus
or on the street.

Just one look, a flash
of a smile and straight away...

You want to go to bed with her.

The psychologist got you there!

She does have a point...

You two sure are funny.
What are your names?

This is Federico, I'm Ettore.

Nice names. Strange...

I'm Wanda, but everyone calls me
"Mona Lisa" since I always smile.

Smiling is good.

Fellini has just finished directing
his second film, "I Vitelloni"

which has already been selected
for the 14th Venice Film Festival.

Add a little bird here.

I read your piece
"Unjustifiable Absence" and liked it.

He involved Gogol and even Kafka.

- What time is it?
- Why do you even ask him?

If he says 10:00,
it could be either 9 or 11.

Isn't it more fun that way?

I bet at Venice you'll get
the Leone D'Oro for lies.

Or the Rinocchio D'Oro
for your career.

You'll get the silver
pain-in-the-ass prize.

Maybe.

Apart from being a great director,

Fellini is also a great liar,
perhaps the biggest in the world.

But...
His brain is like this!

As long as
you don't end up like this...

Lies weren't really lies to him,
they were imagination.

It was seeing
what other people can't see.

The Maestro loved
talking about when he'd run away.

The first time he was 5,
he ran away to join the circus.

Something that never happened,
he admitted he made it up.

Mario, this man hasn't paid.

The narrator doesn't pay.

You're the boss.

Authentic getaways
into his imagination.

Like his sudden fainting fits
that always occurred

in embarrassing situations like
breaking up with a girlfriend

or some decision
he couldn't put off any longer.

You're right,
there's no part in a film.

- There's not even a film.
- What a swindler you are.

What's your opinion of
our great director Federico Fellini?

He dances.

He dances.

- And Father Titino did all this?
- Exactament.

What is Fellini preparing for us?

- It was wonderful.
- I thought it was redundant.

It was odd, unlikely.

They're just his fantasies.
Where's the reality?

Reality doesn't exis.

Wonderful job.

Beautiful.

Not really...

The hands!

I can never get the hands right.

Either too small...

or too big,

too knotty,

or too limp.

They look like someone else's hands.

Only Michelangelo and Caravaggio
ever got hands right.

Not me. Never.

Why is the saint black?

- That's Saint Nicholas.
- St. Nicholas of Bari?

- Was he black?
- Not black. Brown.

St. Nicholas was Turkish.

Not a single star out.

The weather's taken
a turn for the worse.

Let's hope it doesn't rain.

Once on Isola Tiberina
I did a nice Rope Urban II

placing Saint Nicholas' relics
under the altar of the basilica.

The weather got bad,
it started pouring

and the colours washed away.

- It looked like a Rollock in the end.
- Well, that's not so bad.

Want a lift?

Depends... where are you going?
I have to go to the station.

- Are you leaving?
- No, why?

Come with us then.

Why did you leave a coin?

Where, in the tin?

To show that's where
the donations go.

Is there money when you come back?

Of course.

If not, someone who
needed it even more took it.

The tin is always there,
no one ever takes that.

And who were
those children you drew?

The famous miracle of St. Nicholas:
The resurrection of the children.

A butcher killed and
preserved them in salt

to sell the meat.
It's a well-known story.

- You know it, don't you?
- No.

Well, that's ignorance for you...

You're amusing and good.

I wasn't really in top form today.

You'd think it doesn't matter
but it's everything.

A bank teller, even if
he doesn't feel in top form,

can't mix up credits and debits.

Unless he's a crook.
But it's different for an artist.

Without inspiration, the artist
gets everything wrong.

Colours, perspective, proportions...

I had a certain attraction,
ever since I was a child

to certain people
in the small town I was born in

who were considered extravagant
and looked at with severity:

Artists.

I was fascinated by the fact
that they didn't go to the barber,

they had long hair
and they didn't bathe much.

I admired them because
they were considered vagabonds.

I rarely go to the barber,
I rarely bathe,

but that's not enough for art,
you need inspiration!

And it's a daily battle.

It's a daily battle for him too.
But he wins.

- You paint too?
- We work in cinema.

- This is Fellini.
- I know who he is.

He shows women
with big bums and boobs.

Yes. We're colleagues.

Well, colleagues. Take it easy.

Until further proof,
cinema is the seventh art.

Rainting is the third.
Don't confuse them.

- Why, do you know them in order?
- Of course.

Architecture, Music, Painting,

Sculpture, Poetry, Dance.

And lastly... Cinema.

What's so funny?
I'm not a caricature.

It's just that you're very amusing.

Have you been painting long?

I was practically born
with chalk in my hand.

Where I come from, they say
that you find art in the crib.

I never thought once,
when I was a boy,

that I'd be a film director.

I had mixed-up ideas.
I knew I wasn't going to be a doctor

like my father wanted.

Or a cardinal, like my mother
wanted, I disappointed her.

Having mixed-up ideas helps too.

Certainties destroy inspiration.

Creativity has no rules.

Creativity is a form of disease.

You don't look for the flu,
you just get it.

It's a matter of luck.

The moment I'm doing my job,

the moment in which
I become a director,

a dark spirit possesses me
and directs in my place.

I just let it use my voice,
my sense of handiwork,

my attempts at seduction,
or plagiarism, or authority.

I get possessed too
but something isn't right.

Tonight it couldn't even
keep the chalk in its hand.

Cinema is painting too,

even before it becomes
literature or theatre,

the objects and
the light on the objects...

What is the fundamental
component of painting?

What would you say?

Why can't I ever get
the hands right?

Look how nice that kissing couple is.

Where?
I only see an old man walking by.

But... they were there...

You imagined it.

Then Bac� the Magician appeared
and showed me my thoughts.

Well, you never know...

- Maybe they just left...
- Rossibly.

During one of their drives,

During one of their drives,

Scola tells the Maestro about a film
he's writing with Age and Scarpelli.

What's it about?

It's about three friends,

who were partisans together in 1943

and they meet up several times
throughout 30 years.

Their private
and sentimental affairs,

their political passions,

develop in parallel
to the history of Italy.

Starting with the Resistance,

all the way to today, the 1970s.

In between the most significant
historical events of that era,

I would like to add

scenes from an Italian film
that left its mark on those years,

just like "La Dolce Vita".

So you have to play yourself
in my film.

- No, no. Out of the question.
- What do you mean?

Who'll be Fellini then?
A double?

Ask Vittorio De Sica, a real actor,
he'd be glad to do it.

- Include "Two Women".
- Yes, Vittorio's a great actor.

And "Two Women" marked those years
like "La Dolce Vita"

but it addresses
an episode from WWII.

I need a film about Italian customs,

myths, and taboos...

about sex, religion.

I have another idea for De Sica,

he will be in the film
and will play himself.

- But you have to do this.
- No, forget about it.

Fellini tried to get out of it
any way he could.

He said he didn't know how to act,
that he couldn't, had no time,

that he had changed too much
since the days of "La Dolce Vita".

But the truth was that he had already
acted for other directors in 1950,

when he wrote an episode
with Rossellini in the film "Amore"

called "The Miracle".

A vagabond is mistaken for Joseph

by a feeble-minded farmer woman
played by Anna Magnani.

For fun, he and Rossellini
decided he would play the vagabond.

They dyed his hair blond
and gave him a fake beard.

I'm so happy!
Oh joy, St. Joseph.

You are the kindest saint I know.

Yes, otherwise the Lord

wouldn't have entrusted you
with Mary and the baby.

So answer my prayer.

You've answered so many already.

You're so kind.

As soon as I prayed to you,
you answered me.

But Fellini said
it wasn't a good experience

and he was still embarrassed
about it.

So there was no convincing him.

Basically, it was clear
you couldn't insist with Fellini.

It wasn't clear to Scola
so he insisted,

and after many drives,

Fellini finally agreed
to play himself

in "We All Loved Each Other So Much".

But on one condition:

He wouldn't be filmed from behind.

"So no one sees my bald spot".

From behind, good.

- Who's that blonde harlot?
- Anita Ekberg's stand-in.

- I can't work like this.
- They didn't give me a permit!

- Is Anita ready?
- She's in make-up.

Okay, take five.

You promised I could work.

Pierluigi, stop it, please!

Excuse me, you have an admirer,

from military secret service,
he could help with our permits.

Hello Colonel, how are you?
My pleasure.

I'm so proud
to shake the great Rossellini's hand.

- I've seen all of your films...
- Yes, that's right.

- Sorry, I must go.
- Let's go eat.

General break!

Queue up for your meal.

The break will last one hour.

Another important link between the
two directors: Marcello Mastroianni.

Fellini adopted Mastroianni as
an ideal alter-ego in his main films,

in fact, he took better care of him
than himself:

Forcing physical exercise and diets
on him that he himself never did.

While Scola gave him
less autobiographical roles

and followed Marcello
to all the restaurants he chose.

The three friends
spent 50 years together,

paying visits to each other on sets
or entertaining each other

in the salon of their friend,
lawyer Giovanna Cau.

I frankly don't know.

My films come about
because I sign a contract,

I get an advance, refuse
to give it back so I have to do it.

I don't believe
in total freedom of creation.

A creative person left in
this dimension of total freedom

would tend not to do anything.

Federico, Marcello, I'm coming with.

A very dangerous thing
for an artist is total freedom.

Waiting for inspiration,

this romantic rhetoric.

An artist is psychologically a rebel.

It's someone with
a childish need to rebel.

And so in order to rebel,
you need parents,

a principal, a priest, the police.

I need a contrast too.

I need someone who irritates me.

I need an enemy
so I can defend whatever I do.

- Where's Marcello?
- On the phone, as usual.

Hello, Giovanna? Remember,
if anyone asks, I'm in Raris.

Also, the marble worker
from the cemetery called.

A plot is free with room for twelve
and I'm very interested.

I want to buy it.

I want to close it with...
can you hear me?

With a simple stone.

1.50m x 1.50m of Reperino stone,
a typical Roman stone.

But not the usual sad epitaph...

You can put
Marcello Mastroianni, born and died.

It has to be simple.

"I'm not in: Call my attorney".

When he called me for "La Dolce Vita"
I went to visit him.

He told me the producer,
De Laurentiis, wanted Raul Newman.

But Newman was too important,
too exceptional.

He wanted someone
with an ordinary face...

What are you saying?
I picked you, not Raul Newman.

Newman would never do
a film with you!

Mother, what are you doing here?

I have something to say
to Mr Scola.

Why do you always make
my son so ugly in your films?

Fellini makes him handsome!

I got that off my chest, goodbye.

She's right: "Mothers think
their ugly ducklings are beautiful".

He's no ugly duckling, he's cute
with an ordinary face.

Not again!

Is that why Fellini,
before he started filming "Casanova",

auditioned all the greatest
Italian actors except Marcello?

Did he want a less ordinary face?

He auditioned Gassman, Tognazzi,
Sordi but not Mastroianni.

You know he invited everyone.

He even talked to... you know...
I'm not going to name names.

How could he not offer "Casanova"
to his pal Snaporaz?

Look...

Aren't I the spitting image?

- Don't I look just like him?
- A little.

Identical.

Refined.

Spectacles.

- What's this?
- I don't know.

Bold.

What's that?

Gentle, right?

Maybe...

What now?

Offended!

Go on, go on.

Federico, let me do a scene.

Isn't there a script?

Something intense
that I can do with passion.

- Isn't there a script?
- No.

If you highlighted the jaw,

on the left and the right...
all of my colleagues do it.

Then suck in my tummy,

some high heels for the height...

Casanova was really tall.
How tall?

191.5 cm.

No, not even with stilts.

The aspect I like most
is the vitality.

The vitality of this giant

who resurrects from the ashes,
from defeat, it's beautiful.

I'd say vitalism more than vitality.
Something neurotic.

And this mostly comes out
in that stupendous episode

when Casanova is furious

and starving and tired.

- He comes out of the mine.
- From what?

The copper mine in Finland.

It's beautiful, beautiful.

When did Casanova go to Finland?

I like that about memory,
it gives you your life back.

Tell me about that episode.

There was this...

Memory gives you a more truthful
life than the one you had.

There was this figure...

I'm not sure, maybe it was in Modena.

It was definitely in Emilia.

Was it?

Maybe it wasn't.

A bit of fatigue perhaps,
who knows.

It happens, you know...

- See you, Fellini.
- Bye.

- Make Casanova.
- Sure, I will.

The satisfaction of playing
the great Venetian lover

was given to Marcello by Scola.

In fact, a few years later, in 1982,

Mastroianni played Casanova
in his film "That Night in Varennes",

La Nuit de Varennes.

Thanks for the collaboration,
my young friend.

I will not forget you.

As I will not forget you,
Monsieur Casanova.

What a shame we didn't meet
when we were young.

Of course, why not after all.

Never exclude anything on principle.

L'll do it.

- Oh, my gout.
- No, you're so agile.

Drawing was always
an important element in their work.

They had the common habit of drawing
the characters for their films.

Grotesque caricatures for make-up
artists, costume and set designers.

Mickey Mouse presents La Strada,
a tribute to Federico Fellini.

- Who's nominated this year?
- Nobody important.

Billy Wilder, Elia Kazan,
Hitchcock... people like that.

No one.

And the Oscar goes to
Federico Fellini!

Thank you!

Thank you, I'm touched.

Thanks to my mother, my father,
friends from the bar and Giulietta...

And if you don't get it,
you know what you do?

Just put his arms like this.

Nice, really nice.

Thank you, thank you.

The wooden Oscar Maccari and Scola
gave to him as a joke,

clearly brought Fellini luck,

since he won more than one
throughout his entire life.

Federico Fellini received
the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

How many Oscars is this now,
Federico?

This is the third because
I got one for "La Strada",

and another for "Nights of Cabiria".

Another Oscar? Too many!

Moreover,
you have to be funny, smart,

passionate, elegantly aloof,

and even Felliniesque.

That's the hardest part

because despite being flattered
of having become an adjective,

I don't know what it means!

This makes five!

We got five Oscars!
We're unbeatable!

We're the best, Maestro!
What incredible films!

We're the greatest!

All masterpieces!

Congratulations,
what wonderful films!

- Is it really Fellini?
- Fellini Fellini!

I can't believe it!
My grandfather's idol!

Hooray Fellini!

Fellini's Oscar miraculously became
an award for the community,

a tiny compensation for millions
of good Italians.

Honest politicians, civil servants,
professors, artisans, workers.

All those who don't receive awards
but have to suffer all the injustice

accumulating every day
like a dark cloud over our nation.

Even for Rome's
final tribute to Fellini,

when crowds came for three whole days
to visit his coffin

in Theatre 5 of Cinecitt�,

the most memorable
and most Felliniesque image

was the two military police
in ceremonial uniform.

The great Rinocchio of Italian cinema
concluded his final getaway,

without ever becoming, fortunately,
a"good little boy".

The film should end here.
Actually it has.

I can still hear
my old producer saying:

"What? Not even a trace
of hope, a ray of sun...

At least give me a ray of sun. "

He begged me during
the test screenings of my films.

A ray of sun...

Well, I don't know. We can try.