giorgialosavio Review of Juliet of the Spirits

Juliet of the Spirits (1965)

A very sensitive Fellini masterpiece

[10/10 · 22 November 2005]

I can never get too tired of seeing Fellini. Over and over again. When I bought this film I was very anxious about it, but I had sub-estimated the film in my imagination. When I actually saw it, I was awed, amazed, in love. Giulietta Masina is a genius, a real actress. Even though this time she doesn't act in her brilliant clownesc style, she is as convincing and loving as she always is. The colours are brilliant, even more so for a film done in 1965 (and much better than the colours used in later works such as Casanova). The film is full of hidden hints so the attentive eye can understand the story more in depth. Fellini is a master on putting things in a very metaphorical way, and here he achieves to better himself even more. The clothing is fantastic and ageless. The flowers flowing from all the other female character's clothes contrast with the linear and simple ones from Giulietta, showing how introspective she is in her life, specially in her sexual one. The film is very Fellini, but very feminine in the other side, something rare until then. Even though women played a central part in most of his films, they were always seen through other men's eyes. This time the whole world is seen through Giulietta and her feminine repressions, caused by the typical Fellini factors - education, the church, family and of course Italy. Fellini might be good for those who love cinema, but for those who love it and understand what being an Italian conveys, it is a wonderful delight. Nothing better than a Fellinesc big southern woman, or an outrageously funny Ruma'...