La Dolce Vita analysis

He has a quest for ‘the sweet life’ as the film’s name suggests. Marcello wants to live the life of the Roman upper class and is viewed to chase women and sex even during his job as a journalist. The film depicts the unholy and decadent society of Italy, specifically Rome at the time. As Marcello is seen seeking happiness but never seems to find it, in fact, he does not even try. He has lost his moral direction and even his intellectual direction. La Dolce Vita reveals that the idea that the sweet life is a hoax through its portrayal of non-satisfaction from material objects, sex, and even a falsified love. The first theme is the fact that material objects are not satisfying: this can be seen in some few instances.

The first is through Steiner, who when we first meet him appeared calm and full of life. At the evening party, Marcello is impressed by Steiner, that he remarks how he is envious of Steiner’s position. But Steiner replies sharply and says “Don’t be like me, Salvation does not lie within four walls. Maddalena says that she wants to hide but can’t, she need an island. Marcello suggests that she buy one, according to him Maddalena’s problem was that she has a lot of money, while he does not. We get to see the second theme which is sex: It is a very common theme throughout the film, Marcello chases sex from the first time he is shown how to get girls’ numbers from their news helicopter.

Also, Marcello and Maddalena decide to change their nightly routine of sex, they pick up a prostitute and go back to the prostitute’s home. Their casual sex does not disturb the prostitute as just as her, sex is an activity that is carried without emotion. Marcello is unfaithful to Emma but always returns to her again and again. The only time we get to see signs of his love for her is only after he found her overdosed on prescription pills, after his night out with Maddalena. It seems Emma was tired of Marcello’s night-outs, and there’s a moment of awakening for Marcello after being shocked that Emma tried to commit suicide (Rufus Pollock 1997). On the way to the hospital, he declares his undying love for Emma as she lay unconscious.

Awaiting for her recovery he tries to call Maddalena using the hospital phone. But from whose viewpoint? If one phone call could announce the end of everything? We need to live in a state of suspended animation like a work of art, in a state of enchantment. We have to succeed in loving so greatly that we live outside of time, detached. ” (one movie blog) La Dolce Vita provides an insight into the common philosophical thinking that “the sweet life” of the rich and famous is fake and it shows this by its portrayal of satisfaction from material objects, sex, and even love. Conclusion A great film always depicts some sense of life to it and has the capacity to show emotions and even portray its past.

We see the adolescent waiter smile at Marcello at the end of the film. The film is mainly based on emptiness. Marcello said “perhaps he was afraid, afraid of himself, of us all” remarking Steiner after his suicide. The failure of relationships is very common in the film, even with the relationship between Marcello and his father. Marcello rarely saw his father and his attempts to ask his father to stay in Rome are not successful. When Marcello confesses his love to Maddalena, she betrays him by embracing another man. They always chase for happiness but sadly end up finding a short-lived moment full of the good life and wake up to live in the harsh reality of emptiness. The characters are so fixated on material objects that they fail to appreciate the value of life.