Fellini - Satyricon (1969)

A series of disjointed mythical tales set in first century Rome.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Petronius (book), Federico Fellini (adaptation)

Stars:

Martin Potter, Hiram Keller, Max Born

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Potter	...	Encolpio
Hiram Keller	...	Ascilto
Max Born	...	Gitone
Salvo Randone	...	Eumolpo
Mario Romagnoli	...	Trimalcione (as Il Moro)
Magali Noël	...	Fortunata
Capucine	...	Trifena
Alain Cuny	...	Lica
Fanfulla	...	Vernacchio
Danika La Loggia	...	Scintilla (as Danica la Loggia)
Giuseppe Sanvitale	...	Abinna
Genius	...	Liberto arricchito
Lucia Bosé	...	La matrona
Joseph Wheeler	...	Il suicida (as Joseph Weelher)
Hylette Adolphe	...	La schiavetta

Storyline

In first century Rome, two student friends, Encolpio and Ascilto, argue about ownership of the boy Gitone, divide their belongings and split up. The boy, allowed to choose who he goes with, chooses Ascilto. Only a sudden earthquake saves Encolpio from suicide. We follow Encolpio through a series of adventures, where he is eventually reunited with Ascilto, and which culminates in them helping a man kidnap a hermaphrodite demi-god from a temple. The god dies, and as punishment Encolpio becomes impotent. We then follow them in search of a cure. The film is loosely based on the book Satyricon by Gaius Petronius Arbiter, the "Arbiter of Elegance" in the court of Nero. The book has only survived in fragments, and the film reflects this by being very fragmentary itself, even stopping in mid-sentence.

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Plot Keywords:

homoeroticism | homosexuality | boy | hermaphrodite | roman bath | 

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Taglines:

There Is No End...No Beginning... There Is Only the Infinite Passion of Life...

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | History

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian Latin

Release Date:

11 March 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fellini Satyricon

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Latin phrase recited by the woman about to commit suicide was: "Animula, vagula, blandula, hospes comesque corporis", the emperor Hadrian's supposed dying words. Hadrian died 72 years after Petronius, the author of "Satyricon".

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Goofs

In one version, Joseph Wheeler is credited as 'Joseph Weelher'.

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Quotes

Trifena: Venus favours marriages held at sea.

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Connections

Referenced in Trick (1999)

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Soundtracks

The Drums for the Niegpadouda Dance
From Anthology of Music of Black Africa
Recorded by Everest Records
Arranged by Bernard C. Salomon
Published by Arvon Music

User Reviews

stunning images, but not everybody's cup of tea

This is by far not the best film I've ever seen, but it is probably the most important film I've ever seen. I saw it for the first time when it came out in 69, when I was 16. Before then, I was only marginally interested in films. Something to while away the time. And then I saw Satyricon. And life has never been the same ever since. All of a sudden I realised that film was more than simply recording images, all of a sudden it dawned on me that cinema could be art. Now, maybe Satyricon isn't great art, but to me at that time it was overwhelming. I'm sure other films have had this same catalytic effect on other people. Satyricon got me hooked on film, and I never looked back. I saw the film again about 10 years ago. I was amazed how it was still capable of exiting me. In spite of its wooden acting, its cardboard backgrounds, the unsynchronized lip movements this is amazing movie magic.