Vintage Sand Episode 44: "Asa Nisi Masa:" 8 1/2 at Sixty

Vintage Sand

“Asa Nisi Masa:” 8 ½ at Sixty It is an intriguing coincidence that perhaps the two greatest films ever made about the creative breakthroughs and heartbreaks involved in making a film are both celebrating major anniversaries in 2023. First, Federico Fellini’s raucous, post-modern celebration of his own creative process, "8 ½" turns sixty. It’s important to note, though, that while we see no filmmaking in that film, the actual portrayal of the logistical and emotional vicissitudes of film creation are very much at the heart of François Truffaut’s much-beloved "Day for Night", which itself turns fifty this year. We will focus most of our time in this episode on Fellini’s film, taking our intrepid listeners on a tour that begins with an opening that stands as the most brilliant metaphor for creative blockage ever put on film, all the way through the end with the circus band playing Nino Rota’s indelible march as every character we’ve seen from the director’s past and present joins hands and dances in perhaps the most life-affirming moment in all of film. We then use Fellini’s work as a springboard to discuss the other films about filmmaking that we love, starting with "Day for Night", and bringing in works ranging in tone from Assayas’ "Irma Vep" to Jonze’s "Adaptation" to Burton’s loving tribute to Ed Wood. Finally, we’ll take a quick peek at this year’s two great portraits of the filmmaker as a young man, Gray’s "Armageddon Time" and Spielberg’s "The Fabelmans" (though honestly, I’d take J.J. Abrams’ "Super 8" over either of them). But it’s important to keep in mind that all of these wonderful films probably never even come close to happening without Fellini blazing the trail. To paraphrase the master himself, he may have had nothing to say, but fortunately for all of us, he found the most brilliant way to say it all the same. Grazie mille, maestro!