Tuesday, July 15, 2008
netflixed
"Roma? That's Fellini's worst film!" folks told me often. I kept sliding it back in my Netflix queue as a result, denying myself an enormous pleasure. Ok--it might actually be his worst film, but so what? I adored it start to finish, and might actually like it more than Amarcord. Love the ecclesiastical fashion show with roller skating priests and rump-shaking nuns.
Of course now I have a major jones to go back to you-know-where. Many wonderful memories of Rome from March '99 came back during the film.
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6 comments:
I love Rome. I was there a week, too short of a time. I don't think I've seen Roma, but maybe I only watched the first reel in a theater before leaving. Memory plays tricks.
I only spent a week there too. Not enough time. But I think we walked the entire city in seven days, and about four miles down the Via Appia to some catacombs south of town at one point.
Best memory? Walking past the Pantheon at midnight and hearing chant--inside were monks performing by candle-light for a handful of people. It was Easter. Torches picked up glints in the marble and pigeons cooed at the occulus far above.
It's this kind of sudden epiphany that happens in Rome easily, and Fellini captures that spirit in his loose and baggy but scintillating movie.
memories of rollerskating priests and rump shaking nuns?
:) jv
Good rule of thumb--take the artist's most hated film/book/album whatever and seek it out. It's got to be good. 'Roma'=no exception. I loved it too...
The city, yeah...I remember getting in to see a pristine 'just restored' San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane or the graffiti on my room door "Things To Do In Rome Tonite: 1.)Get Drunk 2.)Listen To Jane's Addiction 3.)Get Laid" Indeed!
And the food! Oh, man...
Well, duh! Although I must say Roma and Venezia were the low points in my travels, but that may have been just bad luck on my part. Best--Orvieto, Assisi & Cortona!
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