I watched this film with my father, knowing that this would be in his wheelhouse, being that he is a foreign film fanatic. Upon finishing the film my father said, "Of all the Fellini films I've seen, this one had the least amount of symbolism." That could be entirely true, being that this is my first Fellini, but the film is certainly not without symbolism.

Early on we are introduced to the contemptibly lecherous Fausto Moretti. After impregnating his best friend's sister, he attempts to skip town, only to have his father force him into a shotgun wedding. Shortly after, Moretti is forced by his father-in-law to take a position working at a religious curio. It's there where the irony takes hold. Fausto, named for the fictitious doctor who made a pact with the Devil, begins a downward spiral of infidelity and thievery. He neglects his young bride in order to chase after his boss' wife, as well as random women he meets. After a falling out with his boss, over his attempt to woo his wife, Fausto decides he is entitled to a severance package. From there he takes an expensive statue as compensation, only to be caught and outed as a thief and cheat. Similar to Goethe's Faust, in the end Fausto hits his lowest point, is near losing it all, only to be rescued by his angelic wife.

While the story is really about the fall and redemption of Fausto, the focus shifts from time to time in order to show the exploits of Fausto's shiftless group of friends. A group of unemployed twenty somethings, the group of friends can be seen moving from parties, to cafés, to poolhalls, all the while avoiding any physical labor. At the end of the film the group of friends taunt a group of day laborers on the side of the road, only to have their car break down, opening theirselves to attack from the workers. The movie certainly explores the idea of an unmotivated, complacent generation and their place in a society built by their elders, through perseverance and hard work. The younger characters are repeatedly reminded of the sweat and labor that went into providing them with this lifestyle that they so selfishly enjoy. In a world of reality tv stars, heiresses and heirs a film like I Vitelloni is still relevent today.

Despite the main character's symbolic naming and the social commentary, I Vitelloni is a fairly straightforward film. Fellini has been frequently lauded for his use of the fantastic and cerebral in his films. Here we get the beginnings of such filmmaking, but I Vitelloni is a very linear selection compared to Fellini's reputation. The movie is well done as far as story, acting, and cinematography go. The comedic elements are timeless, while the dramatic elements have been replicated many times over, with less success. Each role is played to perfection, while not a single shot is wasted. It's easy to see how Fellini gained his reputation as a master in his field.