8 1/2: Key Facts | SparkNotes

8 1/2 Key Facts

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Full title: 8½ (original: Otto e mezzo)

Director: Federico Fellini

Lead Cast: Marcello Mastroianni as Guido Anselmi, Anouk Aimée as Luisa Anselmi, Sandra Milo as Carla

Supporting Cast: Claudia Cardinale, Mario Pisu, Barbara Steele, Rossella Falk, Madeline LeBeau

Writers: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano

Producer: Angelo Rizzoli

Genre: Auteur; drama; comedy

Language: Italian (with occasional French and English)

Awards & Nominations

1964 Academy Awards

Nominee: Best Foreign Language Film, Best Costume Design, Best Director (Federico Fellini), Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction

Won: Best Foreign Language Film, Best Costume Design

Dates of release: February 1963 (Italy), June 1963 (US)

Setting (place and Time): A small spa town in Italy, in the early 1960s

Foreshadowing: The construction of the absurd rocket launch set foreshadows the ultimate collapse and disintegration of the film Guido is working on.

Major conflict: Guido must decide what he wants his next movie to say and whether he can save his marriage.

Rising action: Guido’s cowriter despises his script, the leading actresses seem wrong for their roles, Guido’s wife Luisa is fed up with his indecision, and as the shooting dates approach Guido is overwhelmed by pressure and wants to quit.

Climax: Guido realizes that his original ideas were wrong, fires his leading actress, and quits the film.

Falling action: Guido begins a new, more truthful film and asks Luisa to forgive him.

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