La Dolce Vita, remembered

By Anna Cooper

Everyone knows the phrase "la dolce vita". Marcello Mastroianni is the reason why, helping to start a global movement in the 1960s that continues to sweeten lives worldwide today. Simply put, Mastroianni is Italy's answer to James Dean, a cultural icon who captivated audiences with amazing performances on screen, time after time.

Over 45 Mastroianni films will be screened at the RomeFilmFest in an honorary tribute to remember the film great.

Ten years after his death, Mastroianni maintains a loyal fan base, Professor Peter Sarram from John Cabot University says, adding “no other male Italian actor can compare”.

Mastroianni first broke out as an enormous hit in Italian cinema in the late 1950’s. His popularity is linked with director Federico Fellini and actress Sophia Lauren.

Mastroianni’s global breakthrough came in Fellini’s 1960’s international hit, "La Dolce Vita". In this classic about a young journalist caught up in the high life along Rome's via Veneto, Mastroianni earned the title, “the Latin lover.”

During his lifetime, Mastroianni’s on-screen performances earned him several awards and nominations. Including two Academy Award nominations for his films "Divorce, Italian Style", "Dark Eyes" and "A Special Day", as well as Golden Globe wins for "Divorce, Italian Style", followed by another win in "Marriage, Italian Style."

Mastroianni took great pleasure in acting; in an interview with the New York Times, he expressed his opinion about being in front of the camera, simply stating, “I just get up there and act. It’s great fun”.

The tribute opens Thursday, Oct. 12. Film screenings will be held at the Casa Del Cinema, in the Villa Borghese Park and run through Saturday, Oct. 21.