Overview
A vibrant exploration of life in Rome through the eyes of its most colorful citizens.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- surrealistic
- witty
- irreverent
- arthouse film night
- italian cinema retrospective
What critics said
Critics broadly admire Fellini's visually inventive direction and his transformation of Rome into the film's central protagonist, though the loose structure is more divisive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rome itself provides the film's connective tissue, from traffic jams and nightlife to subway archaeology and ecclesiastical spectacle.
The young Fellini's arrival in Rome during the Mussolini years is reconstructed alongside later and more theatrical episodes.
The narrative moves through loosely connected Roman encounters, performances, crowds, excavations, and nocturnal journeys.
The Mussolini-era autobiography is juxtaposed with present-day Roman life, including the autostrada jam and underground excavations.
Films like Roma, and why
Amarcord
impressionistic city portrait, autobiographical elements, and playful movement between memory and contemporary urban spectacle
8½
semi-autobiographical filmmaking, theatrical excess, and fragmented reflections on artistic identity
La dolce vita
episodic observation of a major city through eccentric characters, social spectacle, and bittersweet comedy
The Naked City
experimental autobiographical urban cinema combining documentary-like observation with surreal and theatrical imagery
Movie Details
- Director
- Federico Fellini
- Release Date
- 1972-03-16
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (375)
Cast
- Peter Gonzales Falcon
- Fiona Florence
- Pia De Doses
- Marne Maitland
- Renato Giovannoli
- Elisa Mainardi
- Norma Giacchero
- Stefano Mayore
- Galliano Sbarra
- Anna Magnani
Common questions
- What is Roma about?
- Federico Fellini turns Rome into a flamboyant, memory-haunted protagonist in an episodic carnival of history, spectacle, sex, and everyday life.
- What is Roma like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Roma as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Roma violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Roma.
- What did critics think of Roma?
- Critics broadly admire Fellini's visually inventive direction and his transformation of Rome into the film's central protagonist, though the loose structure is more divisive.
- Which films are like Roma?
- Films with a similar feel include Amarcord, 8½, La dolce vita, and The Naked City.
- How long is Roma?
- Roma runs 120 minutes.
