Die Müßiggänger (1953)
30KDie Müßiggänger: Directed by Federico Fellini. With Franco Interlenghi, Alberto Sordi, Franco Fabrizi, Leopoldo Trieste. A character study of five young men at crucial turning points in their lives in a small town in Italy.
“This is a wonderful film. The BFI have got their act together and made a new print, so finally I get to se this – and to be honest I preferred it to La Dolce Vita (despite absence of Mastrionni – sexiest man in history of cinema). Anyway, some of these scenes were just breath-takingly beautiful, especially the aftermath of the carnival, where Angelo looks drunkenly at the clowns (about to become a key Fellini motif). What especially impressed was the soundtrack, which lurched from a fairly typical u0026#39;melodramau0026#39; score to brilliant use of natural sound, especially the cold wind whipping around the streets off the sea. This sound adds pathos, and helps you understand that sandra and Faustosu0026#39; u0026#39;happy endu0026#39; is merely temporary: this is a desolate place which makes for desolate lives. It differs from neo-realist classics such as Bicycle Thieves in that it places malaise into the spiritual and emotional realm rather than the financial, although you still get some sense that the boysu0026#39; economic hardship is maybe not entirely voluntary. Really genuienely enjoyable on your first watch, something I donu0026#39;t think you can say about all Felliniu0026#39;s films, beautifully shot and wonderfully paced, you feel as if you have witnessed a little miracle watching this film.”
