I Clowns is yet another film that left me scratching my head at why Federico Fellini is considered one of the greatest directors of all time.
After watching 90 minutes of more Felliniesque drivel (to go along with Cabiria, Juliet of the Spirits, Roma, Casanova, And The Ships Sails On and The Voice of The Moon) I was in no mood for the accompanying DVD item, Fellini's Circus.
However, I decided to plough on, and thankfully there were already more points of interest in the first couple of minutes than in the whole of Fellini's film.
It is obvious from watching his films that Fellini had a love bordering on obsession with the circus, it's a recurring stylistic theme, but he never comes close to explaining the appeal the circus had for him in I Clowns - so it's difficult to view his film as anything other than a failure.
I suppose the greatest indictment of I Clowns, and of Fellini as a film-maker, is that I found this modest, hastily assembled companion piece to be far more interesting and informative about the circus.
So, and not for the first time in a Fellini DVD, the extras completely eclipse the main feature.
Ciao Federico.
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