La Dolce Vita

Forty-five years after its original release, the film's depiction of cafe culture hedonism may appear almost quaint, but Fellini's picture was a daring product of its time. The episodic structure means that the film is more entertaining than gripping, but Fellini was an unashamed visual filmmaker - witness the infamous Trevi fountain scene - and his moody approach conjures up an enigmatic atmosphere throughout. Yet as intoxicating as some of his work is, the film's lack of a moral compass means that La Dolce Vita never quite commits itself sufficiently to work as a cautionary tale. Still, if it's moodiness you're after, you've come to the right place...