But as time passed and his films became more surreal, Fellini was tagged as being self-indulgent and saw his stature diminish, particularly after the explicit 'Fellini Satyricon' (1969), which polarized critics and audiences. Fellini hit a third master stroke with the highly personal '8 1/2' (1963), a seamless blend of artifice and autobiography that put on full display the extent of his profound artistry. Following a pair of lesser works, Fellini reached the height of his talents and popularity with 'La Dolce Vita' (1960), a wild satirical look at decadent Italian life that raised the ire of those it parodied while earning the adulation of critics, filmmakers and art house filmgoers. In a few short years, he directed his first masterpiece, 'La Strada' (1954), a tragically poignant tale that earned him international acclaim and award recognition. As an emerging figure of the Italian Neorealism movement, Fellini started as a screenwriter before making his feature debut with the bittersweet 'Variety Lights' (1950). Often called the most influential director of the 20th century, Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini was a master of the surreal, using striking images, autobiographical detail and disjointed narratives to create poetic films that impressed audiences across the world.
