City of Women [Blu-ray]

Director: Federico Fellini

Overview

In this dream-sequence film, renowned Italian director Federico Fellini expounds at length on the nature, complexities, attitudes, and hang-ups of women and how this all relates to men "hunting" sexual conquests. Snaporaz (Marcello Mastroianni) is traveling in a compartment on a train when he lapses into sleep and dreams the ensuing story. He follows a woman off the train and through a field and then loses her. Soon, as a representative of the male sex in general he finds himself in a hotel, among myriad women attending a feminist conference. Surreal episodes take him through a villa with his alter-ego Dr. Katzone (Ettore Manni, who died during filming) and references to his sexual exploits. Reunited with his former wife for a moment, he starts another sequence which reviews his past.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/31/2016
UPC:	0741952806998
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	R
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	2:19:00
Sales rank:	5,603

Special Features

30 minute documentary on the film; 20 minute interview with production designer Dante Ferretti; 10 minute interview with filmmaker Tinto Brass; Original Italian trailer; Original French trailer; 2015 re-release trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Marcello Mastroianni	Snaporaz
Anna Prucnal	Elena
Bernice Stegers	Woman on train
Ettore Manni	Dr. Xavier Zuberkock
Donatella Damiani	Feminist on Roller Skates
Sara Tafuri	Other Dancing Girl,Dancing Girl
Jole Silvani	Old Woman on Motorcycle
Carla Terlizzi	Dr. Zuberkock's Conquest
Katren Gebelein	Enderbreith Small
Dominique Labourier	Feminist
Alessandra Panelli	Housewife in Skit
Mara Ciukleva	Zuberkock's Elderly Maid
Loredana Solfizi	Feminist in Black
Gabriella Giorgelli	Fishwoman of San Leo
Tatiana Petronio	Blonde Motorcyclist,Blonde Motorcyclist
Armando Parracino	Troubadour
Umberto Zuanelli	Troubadour
Pietro Fumagalli	Troubadour
Fiammetta Baralla	Onlio
H?l?ne Calzarelli	Actor
Catherine Carrel	Actor
St?phane Emilfork	Actor
Marcello di Falco	Actor
Silvana Fusacchia	Actor
Sylvie Matton	Feminist
Sibilla Sedat	Judge
Gabriella Giorgetti	Fishwoman of San Leo
Ma?t? Nahyr	Actor
Luis Bacalov	Composer

Technical Credits

Federico Fellini

Bernardino Zapponi

Brunello Rondi

Renzo Rossellini	Producer,Producer
Federico Fellini	Screenwriter
Bernardino Zapponi	Screenwriter
Liliane Betti	Casting
Brunello Rondi	Screenwriter
Italo Cameracanna	Sound Effects
Daniel DuPlantier	Producer

Editorial Reviews

City of Women begins with a shot of a train entering a vine-fringed tunnel, while the protagonist, Snaporaz (Marcello Mastroianni) dozes on board. From there, the story runs on pure dream logic, passing from one Freudian episode to the next within the surreal town of the title. Snaporaz finds himself in the midst of a feminist convention, which gives way to an assault by a grandmotherly sexual predator, which then fades into a chase with a dangerous carload of junkie nymphets. The only other male resident of this distaff dreamscape seems to be the vigorous bachelor Signor Zübercock (Ettore Manni), who happens to be throwing a party to celebrate his 10,000th sexual conquest. Zübercock's home, as subtle as his name, is a trophy case devoted to his obsession with women. Filled with erotic curiosities from around the globe, it is the '70s bachelor pad as only Federico Fellini could exaggerate it. The director's trademark excess here takes on the creepy tone of an old Playboy cartoon. And while City aims for grand statements about the erotic gulf between genders, it's broader success resides in its crude, yet unnervingly funny jokes and symbols. The three film historians interviewed on the City DVD's featurette play up the idea that Fellini was facing his own anxieties about old age and declining potency as he made the film. Despite the director's evident panic, this nightmarish carnival on display here remains a chic thrill.