Fellini - Satyricon (1969) Movie 1-Disc Box Set for Gift Collection Blu-ray

Plot Summary

The Best Director (nominated) at the 43rd Academy Awards is a 1969 film by Fellini, co produced by Italy and France, with a length of 138 minutes. The original name of "Mythology of Love" was "Satiricon", adapted from the novel of the same name by the Roman Albitor in the first century AD. The film depicts the debauched and indulgent life of the Roman Empire. In first century Rome, Encolpio and his classmate Ascilto were arguing over the ownership of the boy Gitone. They divided their belongings and planned to go their separate ways. The boy could choose who to follow, and he chose Ascilto. Encolpio, who had already decided to commit suicide, survived due to a sudden earthquake. Following the series of adventures that took place in Encolpio, director Fellini presented his imagined Roman life to the audience in a nearly comic style, without criticizing or praising the morality in the film. No wonder he issued a statement before the filming of the film, stating that 'Satiricon' will not be an ancient historical film, but a science fiction film. The entire plot is fragmented and involves many customs and traditions of ancient Rome, especially in terms of morality, sexual behavior, diet, and performance, making it a "man and woman" of ancient Rome. Fellini is one of the most imaginative directors in Europe, especially in his unrestrained mid to late stage works. It is difficult to find the so-called "meaning", "morality", and "concept" simply and clearly from his works. It is precisely the grand poetry and ambiguous imagination of his works that make him the most outstanding representative of European film art after the war. The same goes for this film. The film is adapted from a novel written in the first century AD, written by a close friend of the famous Roman debauched emperor Nero. Fellini did not intend to make the film into a history textbook that "uses the past to satirize the present", but rather hoped that the film would become a "Roman fantasy work". Fellini set aside the social ethics, morality, and religious concepts that had evolved for many years, and tried to "simulate" the social customs of ancient Rome as much as possible. Nevertheless, the film is ultimately a reconstruction of ancient society as imagined by modern people. Since its subjective color is inevitable, Fellini simply does not shy away from implementing his subjective "poetic" language and visual concepts in the film. As the subtitle in the movie trailer says, 'Rome, before Christ, after Fellini'. Although emphasizing that Fellini's works should not be interpreted rigidly, if one cannot perceive some of the director's intentions, it would also disappoint this grand epic film. Enko, who was wandering in the thirst for physical desires, can be seen as a representative of the mainstream state of the young generation in Rome. He was unable to break free from pure physical desires and enter the realm of spiritual desires, which was the root of the Romans' inability to reproduce the glory of the Greeks. At the same time, it was also the historical prospect of the emergence of Christianity and Catholicism to unify Europe. Similarly, the film also reflects the Roman concept of death. In such a society where material is more important than spirit, death is inevitably the biggest threat. Therefore, wealthy people have to build tombs before their death, and the playboy Axiutu also has to be deprived of his carefree life by death. Omo ultimately breaks through the ultimate boundary of death, realizes the eternity of spirit, and allows everyone to share the body. At the end of the film, Enko experienced the freedom of the common people, the banquet of the wealthy, and the helplessness of the slaves. He went through various desires and satisfactions of his body, as well as erectile dysfunction and healing. He also gained a deeper understanding of Omo's concept of life and death on his deathbed, and finally boarded the ship bound for Africa. We have reason to believe that this is the new and more progressive generation of Rome.