CIAO, FEDERICO! (1970) An untraditional documentary, part-making-of, part-portrait. Filmmaker Gideon Bachman spent a few weeks filming Director Federico Fellini while he was making his 1969 film SATYRICON in various locations in Italy as well as at Cinecitta Studios.
It's a real hodgepodge as we only really see what appears to be a handful of filming days. The portrait of Fellini isn't entirely flattering as he is shown berating a young Dante Ferretti* over an inadequate set, and constantly squabbling with his cast and extras. Famed Cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno is also spotted among the crew.
There are a few moments of levity as Fellini toys with the cast and crew as well as some on set visitors including Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (extolling the virtues of Disneyland of all things!). Bachman conducts some one on one interviews with Fellini, but never gets much out of him. More informative is an audio snippet from Fellini's mother talking about how the young Federico was fascinated with puppets and the circus from an early age.
SATYRICON is Fellini's most chaotic film, so, perhaps, it's no surprise that this documentary ends up being much the same itself. It's mainly for Fellini completists.
* Ferretti was an assistant on this film, but later became an Oscar winning Production Designer (Hugo, Aviator, Sweeney Todd)
It's a real hodgepodge as we only really see what appears to be a handful of filming days. The portrait of Fellini isn't entirely flattering as he is shown berating a young Dante Ferretti* over an inadequate set, and constantly squabbling with his cast and extras. Famed Cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno is also spotted among the crew.
There are a few moments of levity as Fellini toys with the cast and crew as well as some on set visitors including Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (extolling the virtues of Disneyland of all things!). Bachman conducts some one on one interviews with Fellini, but never gets much out of him. More informative is an audio snippet from Fellini's mother talking about how the young Federico was fascinated with puppets and the circus from an early age.
SATYRICON is Fellini's most chaotic film, so, perhaps, it's no surprise that this documentary ends up being much the same itself. It's mainly for Fellini completists.
* Ferretti was an assistant on this film, but later became an Oscar winning Production Designer (Hugo, Aviator, Sweeney Todd)