I haven’t seen 8½ in ten years and my memory of the film (filtered through Stardust Memories and the Simpsons) boils down to three set pieces: the spa, the rhumba and the rocket. Screening a new Criterion Blu-ray edition, I enjoyed revisiting the film’s small transitional scenes and secondary characters. I was further amazed by …
Tag: italy
Archival Bicycles
From The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Vittorio De Sica 1971) Addendum: Flashback with bicycle and plus fours Away from the estate (bad news activates the plot) I haven’t seen Vittorio DeSica’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis in over ten years. What I remember about the film (aside from its grim ending) is the opening sequence …
From the Archives: Maremanna game jacket
In a frightening preview of Barbour in 2015, the John Ashfield brand of Italian hunting clothing has gone from pitching mossy moleskin Maremmana game jackets to pink logo tees, fleece jackets and beachwear. Grant Petersen of Rivendell claims that the first sign of an outdoor company in decline (namely, Filson or Patagonia) is the introduction …