Federico Fellini’s 1960 masterpiece remains something of a midway point between his Il Maestro’s early neo-realist works and the pure art of his later films. While La Dolce Vita features elements of both, it stands alone as a truly unique creation from a great filmmaker at the height of his powers. For the uninitiated – lucky you! – La Dolce Vita sees Marcello Mastroianni’s jaded gossip columnist flit and flirt his way through Rome in a series of vivid, impressionistic episodes, leaping from one visual show-stopper to another – not least that iconic scene featuring Anita Ekberg and the Trevi fountain. What’s it all about? Life, death, love, art, class and celebrity, for starters – it’s a film ahead of its time, and utterly timeless. Let’s make this very simple: La Dolce Vita demands to be seen by any and everyone who loves cinema. Viva Fellini!

See Special Events for a concert celebrating the film scores of composer Nino Rota – including Rota’s celebrated music for La Dolce Vita. (See page 23).