Fellini's La dolce vita has been a phenomenon since before it was made, a scandal in the making and on release in 1960 and a reference point ever since. Much of what made it notorious was its incorporation of real people, events and lifestyles, making it a documentation of its time. It uses performance, camera movement, editing and music to produce a striking aesthetic mix of energy and listlessness, of exuberance and despair. Richard Dyer's study considers each of these aspects of the film - phenomenon, document, aesthetic - and argues that they are connected. Beginning with the inspirations and ideas that were subsequently turned into La dolce vita, Dyer then explores the making of the film, the film itself and finally its critical reception, providing engaging new insights into this mesmerising piece of cinema.

A study of Fellini's 1960 masterpiece La dolce vita, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020.

About the Author
Richard Dyer is Professor Emeritus of Film Studies at King's College, London, UK. His books include Seven and Brief Encounter in the BFI Film Classics series, Lethal Repetition: The Serial Killer in European Cinema (BFI Publishing, 2015); In the Space of a Song (2011) and Nino Rota: Music, Film and Feeling (BFI Publishing, 2010).


Book Information
ISBN 9781838719845
Author Richard Dyer
Format Paperback
Page Count 88
Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 168g