Roma (1972)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story) &
Bernardino Zapponi (story) ...

Release Date:

15 October 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A virtually plotless, gaudy, impressionistic portrait of Rome through the eyes of one of its most famous citizens...

Plot Keywords:

Rome | Trip | 1970s | Drug Use | Cult Director

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Peter Gonzales Falcon	...	Fellini, Age 18 (as Peter Gonzales)
Fiona Florence	...	Young Prostitute
Britta Barnes
Pia De Doses	...	Princess Domitilla
Marne Maitland	...	Underground Guide
Renato Giovannoli	...	Cardinal Ottaviani
Elisa Mainardi	...	Pharmacist's wife / Cinema spectator
Raout Paule
Galliano Sbarra	...	Music Hall Compere
Paola Natale
Ginette Marcelle Bron		(as Bron Marcelle Ginette)
Mario Del Vago
Alfredo Adami
Stefano Mayore	...	Fellini as a Child

Also Known As:

Fellini Roma (France)
Fellini's Roma (USA)

Runtime:

128 min | Argentina:126 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:18A | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Francese

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Peter Gonzales Falcon's hairstyles are all in the longish 1972 mode, even though the portions of the film in which he appears are supposed to be taking place thirty or more years earlier, at which time men's hair was cut much, much shorter, and would never be worn as it appears in this film.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cinecittà: La casa di F. Fellini (2004) (V)

A wonderfully colourful and dazzling spectacle

As I already knew this film was virtually plot less I had not been expecting a great deal from Fellini, but I was given more than a great deal. Fellini sets out on an almost mythical journey through the shocking but wonderfully real City of Rome as he remembers partly as a boy and as a young adult. You could be mistaken for thinking that Fellini was criticising Rome but he is actually praising its vibrancy in a way in which only he can. There is no plot to speak of, just an array of both gritty characters and breathtaking backdrops. I am not surprised that this film has a relatively low rating because most viewers would feel that for a film a plot is essential. However in my opinion Fellini demonstrates that a plot is not always needed to make a film enjoyable, funny and gripping, as he showed with his brilliant account of his growing up in Amarcord. I would definitely urge you to see Fellini's Roma, as it is not an unbelievable storyline, but a pure film, which will grip you with its continuous vibrancies. 9/10