Intervista

A veteran film star within Fellini's meta-film, Marcello appears in a TV commercial as Mandrake the Magician. His screen persona underscores the spectacle and commodification of fame in cinema. Through this cameo, the film probes how actors become symbols as much as performers.

The maestro-director guiding the backstage exploration of his own process. He negotiates endings, fame, and the aging of a filmmaker, using the set as a living notebook. His presence anchors the film’s meditation on art, memory, and the burden of legacy.

A journalist observer who moves through set pieces and memory, documenting the behind-the-scenes drama. He embodies the media perspective within Fellini’s world and helps link present-day production to past experiences. His presence sharpens the film’s commentary on storytelling and perception.

The Cinecittà custodian who vanishes into the backlot to gather dandelions for herbal tea, adding an air of ritual and mystery to the studio environment. Her brief, almost ceremonial appearances evoke cinema’s quiet guardianship of memory. She helps infuse the set with a sense of forgotten time.

The assistant director scrambling to assemble cast and crew, managing the day’s shoots and auditions. He embodies the logistical heartbeat of filmmaking under pressure. His role highlights the practical side of bringing Fellini’s visions to life.

La Sposa appears as a romantic figure within the frame, contributing to the film’s exploration of performance and attraction. Her presence adds to the spectacle and the idea of cinema as theater. She embodies the allure and demands of star power within a production.

La Diva represents the glamour and theatricality of leading cinema, shaping the on-set fantasy and audience expectations. Her presence tests the boundaries between art and commerce on the film’s staging. She symbolizes the high-stakes world of stardom within Fellini’s meta-narrative.

Diva’s secretary who navigates backstage politics and scheduling. She embodies the administrative labor behind cinema’s glamour and the quiet influence of assistants in shaping a shoot. Her interactions illuminate power dynamics and organizational fragility on set.

La Ragazza del Tram appears in the tram-set context, hinting at the casting process and the search for a face to carry Fellini’s Amerika. Her presence underlines the audition culture and the constant pursuit of the perfect performer. She embodies the tension between potential and selection in cinema.