8½

Name: 8½
Director: Federico Fellini
Genre: Drama
Released: 1963-02-14
Rating: 7.9

February 14, 1963· 2h 19m

Drama

Directed by

Federico Fellini

Cast

Marcello Mastroianni Claudia Cardinale Anouk Aimée Sandra Milo Rossella Falk Barbara Steele +44 more ↓

Cinemagraphs Score7.9

Guido Anselmi, a film director, finds himself creatively barren at the peak of his career. Urged by his doctors to rest, Anselmi heads for a luxurious resort, but a sorry group gathers—his producer, staff, actors, wife, mistress, and relatives—each one begging him to get on with the show. In retreat from their dependency, he fantasizes about past women and dreams of his childhood.

Audience Sentiment

Overall7.9

1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece

Critics

8+ Great

6-8 Good

<6 Poor

3 reviews·Last updated 13d ago

Peak Moment

Final circus of life

9.5at 2h 14m

Lowest Moment

Mistress Carla arrives

5.8at 44m

Biggest Swing

From the confusing middle section where Carla's arrival adds to the narrative chaos (5.8) to the transcendent harem fantasy sequence (9.1) - a 3.3 point jump showcasing Fellini's ability to transform confusion into cinematic brilliance

8½ follows a challenging sentiment arc that mirrors its protagonist's creative journey, starting strong but becoming increasingly difficult and chaotic through the middle sections as viewers struggle with the disjointed narrative. However, the film redeems itself powerfully in the final act, with the harem fantasy and ending celebration representing peak cinematic achievement that justifies the earlier confusion.

3 reviews analyzed|Sources: Tmdb