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A complex and at times controversial film-maker whose career spanned the second half of the twentieth century, Federico Fellini (1920–1993) remains central to the Italian cultural imagery and the object of ongoing debates and critical scrutiny at home and abroad. Images from his films – Gelsomina’s tears, Marcello’s sunglasses – have become global signifiers not only for Fellini and Italian cinema but for Italy itself, as steadily lodged in the world’s collective unconscious as the Colosseum’s arches and Venice’s gondolas.
Marking the centenary of Fellini’s birth, Federico Fellini: Centenary Essays reassesses the film-maker’s legacy with diverse contributions from established and emerging Fellini scholars as well as renowned Canadian film-makers. From literary influences to pictorial references, from artistic collaborations to politics, and from exhibition history to revivals, the collection covers the pivotal aspects of Fellini’s poetics through contemporary methodological tools and features a wide array of scholarly approaches. With complexity and nuance, the book takes stock of the enormous cultural legacy of one of the most celebrated directors in cinema history and is essential reading for scholars and cinephiles alike.
Federico Fellini: Centenary Essays explores the late Italian film master’s legacy in twenty-first-century global culture with perspectives from Fellini scholars from across the globe.
- Imprint: University of Toronto Press
- Published: January 2025
- Pages: 424
Marco Malvestio is an assistant professor in the Department of Linguistic and Literary Studies at the University of Padova.
Jessica Whitehead is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Languages at Cape Breton University.
Alberto Zambenedetti is an associate professor in the Department of Italian Studies and the Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto.
“Federico Fellini: Centenary Essays mirrors the Maestro’s own method in so many ways. It is at turns celebratory and critical, reflective and speculative, concerned with high art and interested in popular culture. In a word, this volume is all-inclusive: it provides a perfect introduction to the many directions in Fellini scholarship (race, gender, media, exhibition, reception) and serves as an up-to-date account of ‘where we are now’ a hundred years after the birth of Italy’s greatest director.”
Jim Carter, Lecturer in Italian and Associate Director of Cinema and Media Studies, Boston University
“Federico Fellini: Centenary Essays constitutes a vital scholarly resource that encapsulates Fellini’s multifaceted impact on cinema and culture. Commemorating the one-hundredth anniversary of Fellini’s birth, this anthology is distinguished by its academic rigour, perceptive critiques, and extensive array of viewpoints. The volume features contributions from Canadian film-makers Atom Egoyan, Guy Maddin, and Deepa Mehta, alongside comprehensive analyses of Fellini’s filmography. It examines the narrative techniques, iconic visual style, and unique blend of high and popular culture that characterize his work. Furthermore, the book explores less frequently addressed dimensions of Fellini’s oeuvre, including the Gothic elements in Il Casanova and the portrayal of African American actress Donyale Luna in Satyricon, thereby enhancing our appreciation of Fellini’s enduring legacy.”
Maria Elena D’Amelio, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies, University of San Marino