159 - And the Ship Sails On, 1983, Italy. Dir. Federico Fellini.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

159 - And the Ship Sails On, 1983, Italy.  Dir. Federico Fellini.

Edmea is taking a cruise.

In an urn.

She is the world's greatest opera singer.

Too bad she is dead.

The good news is that the ship is filled with family and friends who love her.

Or loved her, as it were.

The film begins as if it were an old sepia silent.  With people milling about preparing to launch.

And with the sound of film stock running through the teeth of projector sprockets.

There are few dialogue cards, as there is little dialogue.

When the cards do appear, they flash by in a bright red color.

Then the sepia gives way to full color, and we board the ship and sail the seas.

Along the way we meet people from many walks of life.

And a rhinoceros.

Because every good cruise ship should have its own rhinoceros.

This film feels a bit like a Wes Anderson movie.

With specific tracking shots and an emphasis on offbeat acting and production design.

In some ways it is not like a Fellini picture.  In other ways it absolutely is.

Come aboard the ship.

And go for a ride.