L'Avventura or La Dolce Vita
Personally I like La Dolce Vita more, but both are great movies with similar messages. What do you guys think?
I think La dolce vita is a bit overrated
I roddbåt
MovieChat Forums > L'avventura (1961) Discussion > L'Avventura or La Dolce Vita
I feel that the constant comparisons made between "La Dolce Vita" and "L'Avventura" tend to belittle both films, because it is too easy to reduce these two films to criticisms of the shallow, idle rich, and then ask which is the greater. However, I believe there is much more to both films than a critique of a social class. I think "L'Avventura" and "La Dolce Vita" focus on the wealthy as miccrocosms for all of society. The wealthy do not have the rigours of daily life to distract them. Without distraction by little physical problems, they begin to feel the weight of deeper, less tangible ones (What is my place in the universe? Is there a God? If so, am I accountable to him?). Not wanting to face such difficult issues they escape through carnal pleasures. I think "L'Avventura is a film about spiritual isolation, and the inability to connect due to a lack of spiritual fullfillment. "La Dolce Vita" is a film about the death of hope, that also celebrates the possibility of redemption (notice the closing shot is of the little girl Paola, who has come to represent purity and innocence. Fellini didn't have to end with this shot.) I think both films show more compassion than we give them credit for. If you want to see a film that's primary objective is to attack the wealthy, watch "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie." But "La Dolce Vita" and "L'Avventura" ARE both films about the emptiness in our modern world.
But to throw in my two cents, "La Dolce Vita" is my very favorite film of all time. I'm not saying it a better approach to the theme than "L'Avventura," just a different one. It is has a bigger, broader palate than "L'Avventura," yet at the same time I feel it is more personal. Both films have some of the most transcendent endings in film history, though I feel "La Dolce Vita's" is more optimistic. At "L'Avventura's" ending we are left staring into the blank face of our own inability and isolation. Every man is an island. It's a scary thought, and one I don't think Fellini would buy for an instant.
I totally agree with everything you said in the first paragraph. Dead on.
Personally, I think I like L'Avventura ever so slightly more...but I could go either way.
I also agree with your conclusion about the way Fellini would see things, however. I think it was that differing view that separates him and Antonioni more then anything else. Both are among the best filmmakers ever.
A very thoughtful and well-expressed comparison. Thank you.
I would like to respectfully disagree with your assessment of L'Avventura's ending. I believe it also ends on a note of hope (albeit an uneasy hope), rather than one of isolation. We see Claudia, after much hesitation and trepidation, place an awkward hand upon the male lead's head. With this act, I see her trying to reach across the vast gulf of their mutual isolation, to find connection, intimacy. Again, it's a hesitant, awkward attempt, but one that denotes hope nonetheless.
As I write this, I am reminded of the scene at the belltower, as they ring bells across a long distance, hearing a faint but unmistakable reply. I feel now this was a foreshadowing of her final, brave leap across the abyss of their respective islands.
Interesting that the working title was "L'isola" (the Island).
La Dolce Vita is better. Blow Up is arguably a better film, but l'Avventura sure is pretty. La Notte is good, too.
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No film fascinates on an "out of this world" level as much as L'Avventura, well a few like 2001 for example. I declare L'Avventura my favourite film, period. But I just love movies, in fact you've inspired me to rent La Dolce Vita as well 8 1/2 and watch those beautiful new criterion collection dvds.
shareL'Avventura is better, La Dolce Vita is overrated.
shareI agree completely. La Dolce Vita seems slow and unfocused to me which is what alot of people say about L'Avventura but I love L'Avventura. It just gets better each and every time I see it too!
shareI love both, but I prefer L'Avventura. E'clisse is good too.
My top 20:
http://www.ymdb.com/tyler-l/l28735_ukuk.html
I love both, but I prefer L'Avventura. L'eclisse is good too.
My top 20:
http://www.ymdb.com/tyler-l/l28735_ukuk.html
La Dolce Vita is a better movie. The actors are better and the variety of the story keeps it lively rather than sluggish as is the case with L'avventura. Overrated means nothing in criticism.
shareYou can't compare the two movies at all. although they may share a same message to some degree, the actual movies are done in completely different ways. L'avventura is slow, quiet and sparse, while La dolce vita is full of characters lively and quick paced ( with constant changes in story, characters, etc.). I really don't know which movie I like better but it doesnt really matter because they are both great great movies and I really like them both alot.
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For another view go over to http://imdb.com/title/tt0173772/ Mio viaggio in Italia, Il where Martin Scorsese comments on (and shows scenes side by side from both)of these great films.
Perhaps a key difference is that in La Dolce Vita the Marcello character is outside the group for most of the film whereas in Avventura, L'- Sandro and Claudia are both "inside" the group perspective all the time. Agree they have more similarties than differences.