Fellini takes the viewer on a sea voyage in 1914, complete with a collection of passengers of every description - an Austrian duke, peasant refugees, and members of the cast of an Italian opera company, who are transporting the ashes of a departed friend to her homeland. As it is the eve of WWI, the ship encounters the first war refugees and takes them aboard, thus broadening the classes aboard the vessel. An impressive opening, an unexpected ending and a steady parade of Fellini's trademark set pieces and inconsequential, amusing events color this late work from the director's ouvre.
Though considered to be one of Fellini's lesser works, AND THE SHIP SAILS ON still contains all of the conventions the world has come to expect from him, concentrating more on social commentary and heartwarming humor than his usual grotesqueries. On the eve of WWI, a ship full of opera stars sets sail to take the ashes of one of their own to her homeland. When some war refugees are picked up, though, the opportunity for statements about war and class arises. An impressive opening sequence gets the film off to a rousing start.
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
New Widescreen Transfer
New English Subtitle Translation
Optional English Subtitles
Featured
Victor Poletti: Italian Actor
Review 1:
"...A joyful act of cinematic prestidigitation....A celebration of spectacle..."
Source: New York Times
p.C17 01/26/1984
Review 2:
"Fellini's late fable is set aboard an ocean liner....This is Fellini at his most mannered."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.86 05/01/2006
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