8 1/2

A traffic jam nightmare, a literal flight of fancy, nuns and whores and more: 8 1/2 follows the dreams and visions of a jaded director (Marcello Mastroianni) as he bemusedly attempts his next great film, which may or may not take precedence over his own sexual desires. Federico Fellini’s masterpiece “brought an entirely new dimension to the cinema,” Seymour Chatman wrote; it depicts “the crucial moments in the life of [an] artist who, despite his confusion and uncertainty, is making a supremely honest effort to understand himself and the springs of his creativity.” Featuring music by Nino Rota.