La dolce vita

The magnum opus of one of the most popular Italian directors of all time, La Dolce Vita is a portrait of stardom culture, with a protagonist on the trail of the seductive lifestyle of the wealthy and glamorous celebrities who, in the midst of the era of the society of the spectacle, flaunt themselves in Rome. The onlooker of this worldly spectacle is named Marcello Rubini (Marcello Mastroianni), and as a gossipy journalist, he explores the peripheries of the spotlight. The film's authenticity is due, in part, to Fellini's summer-long "study" of the stars' experiences, and also to the autobiographical dimension of Marcello's character, an evocation of Fellini's early days in Rome, where he began working as a journalist. Forever remembered for Anita Ekberg's iconic image of the Trevi Fountain, La Dolce Vita is an ode to the city of Rome, showing us its opulent and vibrant facades and then revealing the progressive decadence at its core.