City of Women
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Actor: Anna Prucnal, Bernice Stegers, Donatella Damiani, Jole Silvani, Marcello MastroianniDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Italian (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 139 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-04-17
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: New Yorker Video
DVD Reviews of City of Women
DVD Review: Marcello, the stud and the women - another Fellini-esque carnival
Summary: 4 Stars
Snaporaz (Marcello Mastroianni), riding on a train, follows a beautiful woman from his compartment into the restroom. He convinces her to make love to him there, but as they begin, the train stops at a station and she says that it's her stop. She leaves, but Snaporaz is not going to let this nice piece get away so easily. He begins to follow her into the forest - and so Snaporaz begins his bizarre journey into Federico Fellini's "City of Women."
This is not a film with much dramatic structure. Rather, we follow Snaporaz on his strange journey from one surreal situation to another - some of it dreamlike and pleasant, others nightmarish and terrifying. In the forest he comes to a hotel where a feminist convention is being held, eludes a hoard of roller skaters, is nearly raped by a sex-starved middle aged woman, goes for a weird joy ride with a car full of lesbians, seeks refuge in the home of a super stud, is confronted by his estranged wife, is accosted by female police officers dressed like SS storm troopers, gets to dance like Fred Astaire with a pair of barely clad beauties, etc.
I thought that the film started a bit slowly, but once I got into it I was enthralled throughout by the bizarre imagery and the spectacle of it all. Mastroianni does a fine job as Snaporaz, displaying emotions ranging from child-like joy to terror. Much of this is a puzzle to him and he just doesn't know what to make of it. Some important supporting characters are his wife (Anna Prucnal) who tries to re-ignite Snaporaz but he just isn't interested; Ettore Manni as Dr. Katzone (aka Zuberkock), a modern day Don Giovanni with a whole chamber devoted to his thousands of conquests; Bernice Stegers as the woman on the train; and Donatella Damiani (a girl with some amazing bounce to her) in multiple roles as a dancer, roller skater, etc.
A film like this is all about symbolism, and the 20 minute featurette with director Paul Mazursky (Fellini's friend) and some film historians helps to shed some light on it. While there are some interesting anecdotes (the name 'Snaporaz' was an impromptu name Fellini gave to Mastroianni's unnamed character in "8 1/2"), most of the commentary deals with Fellini's views about women, the feminist movement in Italy and Fellini's becoming older himself. When someone called Fellini 'a dirty old man,' for instance, the director didn't object to being called 'dirty' but rather to being called 'old'!
The only disappointment with this release by New Yorker Video is the film transfer itself. It's presented widescreen, about 1.85:1, and enhanced for widescreen sets. The picture quality looks decent enough, but the colors are not very saturated and the image looks a bit dark at times. The edges looked a bit clipped during the title sequence, too, but nothing too severe. While not an optimal image, I wouldn't let it deter anyone from watching.
The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes promotional short, profiles of Fellini and Mastroianni, a photo gallery and trailers for two other New Yorker releases. The folded insert includes a 4 page interview with Fellini regarding "City of Women" from 1980.
"City of Women" may not be a film for everyone, but if you're a fan of Fellini or unusual cinema, do give it a chance.
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