The journey through Italy continues!

Join us for the second film in our Passport to the Movies: International Film Series, celebrating some of the most influential and beloved films in world cinema. Each screening is followed by an engaging discussion exploring the film's artistry, cultural significance, historical context, and enduring impact on filmmakers around the globe.

Our next destination is 81/2 (1963), Federico Fellini's visionary masterpiece and one of the greatest films ever made.

Widely regarded as one of cinema's most imaginative achievements, 81/2 follows acclaimed film director Guido Anselmi as he struggles with creative block while attempting to begin production on his next movie. As reality, dreams, fantasies, and memories seamlessly intertwine, Guido embarks on a deeply personal journey of self-discovery, confronting love, ambition, regret, and the pressures of artistic creation.

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design, 81/2 has inspired generations of filmmakers and artists with its groundbreaking storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and emotional depth. Marcello Mastroianni delivers an unforgettable performance in one of the defining roles of his career, while Fellini creates a film that remains as innovative and captivating today as it was more than sixty years ago.

Join us for this extraordinary cinematic experience and stay afterward for an engaging discussion exploring Fellini's unique artistic vision, the film's influence on modern filmmaking, and why 81/2 continues to be celebrated as one of the greatest films ever created.

---------------------

About the Curator -- Gerard Amsellem

Artist, educator, and filmmaker Gerard Amsellem is a dual American and French citizen with a deep passion for classic, foreign, and independent cinema from around the world. Born and raised in Paris, he spent his first 25 years in France, where he studied painting at the University of Paris and earned a master's degree in French Literature and Art History. He later continued his education at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Gerard has directed several short films and is currently developing two independent film projects. His short film Bartleby (2013) received a Director's Citation from the Black Maria Film Festival and was an official selection at both the Garden State Film Festival and the Twin Rivers Film Festival. Through his production company, New Waves Productions, his most recent film, Creation Until The End: Bernard Requichot, has completed production and is now entering European film festivals. Gerard is dedicated to promoting film as an art form and expanding public access to exceptional cinema from around the world.

CAST: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, Rossella Falk, Barbara Steele

DIRECTOR: Federico Fellini

RUN TIME: 139 min

About Film Ratings