Biography of Federico Fellini:
Federico Fellini's early life in Italy, dominated by Mussolini and Pope Pius XII, served as the inspiration for his creative endeavors. He began recording his dreams and ideas in notebooks during the 1960s, which would later become the foundation for his films.
Growing up in his native Rimini, Fellini drew inspiration from the characters and settings that surrounded him. The devilish Saraghina, a figure of fear and fascination in his childhood, would later appear in one of his films. The Gambettola farmhouse of his paternal grandmother also played a significant role in his work.
Fellini's family members also made appearances in his films. His traveling salesman father, Urbano, appeared in La Dolce Vita (1960) and 8½ (1963),while his mother, Ida Barbiani, from Rome, accompanied him there in 1939. He enrolled in the University of Rome, where he became intrigued by the image of reporters in American films.
Intrigued by the concept of reporting, Fellini attempted to become a journalist himself, creating caricatures and cartoons that caught the attention of several editors. He went on to submit articles, which were later recycled into a radio series about newlyweds "Cico and Pallina." The character of Pallina was played by acting student Giulietta Masina, who would later become his real-life wife.
Fellini's love for vaudeville led him to befriend leading comedian Aldo Fabrizi in 1940. This connection helped him secure a role on Roberto Rossellini's film Rome, Open City (1945),for which he worked on the script. Fellini also contributed to Rossellini's Paisan (1946),during which he discovered the art of film editing. This experience, which began in his mid-20s, marked the start of his life's work as a filmmaker.
