Daily Dialogue — November 27, 2013

“What is this flash of joy that’s giving me new life? Please forgive me sweet creatures; I didn’t realize, I didn’t know. How right it is to accept you, to love, you… and how simple! Luisa, I feel I’ve been set free. Everything looks good to me, it has a sense, it’s true. How I wish I could explain, but I can’t… everything’s going back to what it was. Everything’s confused again, but that confusion is me; how I am, not how I’d like to be. And I’m not afraid to tell the truth now, what I don’t know, what I’m seeking. Only like that do I feel alive and I can look into your loyal eyes without shame. Life is a party, let’s live it together. I can’t say anything else, to you or others. Take me as I am, if you can… it’s the only way we can try to find each other.”

— 8 1/2 (1964), screenplay by Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinell, Federico Fellini, Brunello Rondi

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is forgiveness, suggested by churnage. Today’s suggestion by Alejandro.

Trivia: The title refers to the number of movies Federico Fellini had directed up until that point — six features, two short (1/2) films and “half a picture” (Variety Lights (1950) his first, co-directed with Alberto Lattuada), for a total of 7 1/2. So this one is number 8 1/2.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Alejandro: “The original ending was a real downer — Guido’s film wasn’t being made and he had the same personal problems. In the new ending he asks himself for forgiveness and embraces life and peace. The surreal final scene gives him redemption and the film a memorable, uplifting conclusion. Additional points awarder for being able to show it in such an original way. It’s interesting to see how a single scene can change a film so much. Can you imagine the movie with the downer ending?

And it’s done using a voice over.”

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