top of page

Short Film

What would a Fellini-Esque short film look like?

​

The ending of Federico Fellini’s 8 ½ (1963) is a scene that is up for interpretation. To watch the entirety of 8 ½ would not grant an easier understanding of the films ending. Fellini’s 8 ½ ending has Guido (the main character) walk out into the middle of a circus stage circle after having symbolically/literally killed himself - depending on the interpretation - after a meeting to discuss his upcoming film. Among Guido is the rest of the cast wearing all white. He begins directing the cast to dance around the circle holding hands. The general interpretation of this scene is that Guido is symbolically killing his worries about making the film, his wife, and expectations, as to enter into a more pure state of being; to reach individuation. No matter the interpretation of the scene, the bottom line is that Guido is exiting a state, then entering a pure state. In my 5th project, I chose to make a film showing an alternate ending to Fellini’s 8 ½. I attempted to accomplish the same idea in my film, where I showed Guido exiting his current disposition, then entering into a pure state. In the same vein as Fellini, my ending is heavily symbolic and takes deciphering to understand. The film begins with Guido walking onto an empty stage. He looks out into the crowd to show an empty room, but sitting in the middle of the room is a small table with a lamp. On the lamp is a thin vale, under this vale is a glass pitcher and a glass. Guido walks to the table and pours himself a glass of water. The moment before he takes a sip, he looks to the stage to reveal a second Guido; then to curtains close and the lights turn off. Guido puts down the glass, puts the vale down again, then turns the lamp off. 

 Alternate Ending to 8 ½ 

bottom of page