I interpreted Federico Fellini's "I Vitelloni" as an allusion to Italy in general after World War II. Just as each of the characters tries to figure out a new path in life, the Italian Republic now had to extricate itself from the stigma of Mussolini's fascism, and thus move forward in becoming the society that the world knows today. I see Fausto's and Sandra's relationship (or lack thereof?), along with the lives of Fausto's friends, mainly as a window into what happens in Italia during the post-war era. One might say that the final scene represents a complete forsaking of what Italy used to be.
Of course, this is just my interpretation; I could be totally wrong. But whatever the movie's real gist is, you can't deny the magnificent job that Fellini did directing. Clearly "La strada" was just around the corner. I should say that this one isn't particularly bizarre in the vein of "Satyricon" or "Roma", but it doesn't need to be. Fellini made a timeless masterpiece, and it deserves as much recognition as possible.
And yes, Riccardo Fellini is the director's brother. They look alike.
Of course, this is just my interpretation; I could be totally wrong. But whatever the movie's real gist is, you can't deny the magnificent job that Fellini did directing. Clearly "La strada" was just around the corner. I should say that this one isn't particularly bizarre in the vein of "Satyricon" or "Roma", but it doesn't need to be. Fellini made a timeless masterpiece, and it deserves as much recognition as possible.
And yes, Riccardo Fellini is the director's brother. They look alike.