La dolce vita

Federico Fellini’s masterpiece depicting seven hedonistic days in the life of a tabloid journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) as he searches for the sweet life.

Federico Fellini’s exquisite tale of celebrity casts an adoring yet critical eye towards '60s Rome. Eschewing a traditional narrative structure, the film follows Marcello Mastroianni’s philandering journalist over seven decadent days, pursuing a happiness that’s always just out of reach. A visual odyssey scored by Nino Rota’s alluring soundtrack, La dolce vita is an enchanting fable of fame and folly.

Despite being condemned by the Catholic Church for its sexual frankness and blasphemy, the film was critically acclaimed, winning the 1960 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. As such, it marked a a turning point in Fellini's career, spurring him to leave behind his realism-rooted dramas of the 1950s for a more flamboyant, fantastical vision. Ranked joint 60th in the 2022 Sight and Sound Great Films of All Time poll.