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City of Women

Play trailer Poster for City of Women R 1980 2h 20m Comedy Drama Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This surreal exploration of male and female sexuality follows Snaporaz (Marcello Mastroianni), an Italian train passenger who pursues a beautiful woman. Trailing the lovely lady through a forest, Snaporaz ends up at a hotel populated by women gathered for a feminist conference. He soon realizes that he is an unwelcome presence and must evade hostile women, with some aid provided by the seemingly kind Donatella (Donatella Damiani). Can Snaporaz escape this strange ultra-feminine reality?

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City of Women

Critics Reviews

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Bruce McCabe Boston Globe 04/27/2018
Some viewers, mindful of Fellini's reputation, will be impatient with the film. Its restlessness and turbulence will unnerve them. But there is genius at work here. Go to Full Review Gary Arnold Washington Post 05/07/2017
In a flash Fellini establishes a humorous dream state that is then sustained with remarkable zest and ingenuity for the duration of the ride. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 03/16/2015
Federico Fellini covers his bets in this hallucinatory survey of the women's movement -- it isn't reactionary enough to offend or progressive enough to matter. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com 10/08/2020
2.5/5
Arguably, this isn't a bad film by any means, but perhaps a familiar scenario a bit too broad, a bit too demeaning, and a bit too monotonous to register as one of the esteemed auteur's more notable achievements. Go to Full Review Victoria Brownworth Philadelphia Gay News 05/26/2020
Whether or not it all works is moot -- Fellini is no longer making the statements about life he once made in films like La Strada, but he is still Fellini and he still holds our attention. Go to Full Review Peter Ackroyd The Spectator 03/29/2018
Stylists are only interesting when they consciously choose to forego substance. Fellini can't make that choice. And, when he tries to be serious, he succeeds only in becoming meretricious. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Patrick S @PatrickStruik Jan 6 A bit chaotic but still a recommended Fellini. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 1 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Josh G 03/22/2023 A fever dream, a political commentary, a visual marvel. A one of a kind film that has to be experienced in a contemplative state. Commenting on women, men and everything in-between not even the leads childhood is a marvel of film making. Masterfully directed and written woah what a film. See more 03/13/2022 Such a groundbreaking film to me, I believe everyone should see this at least once. It's a great study of Fellini as a film maker. this film runs counter to his other works, and the roles that men and women play in his films. It also examines the line between fear and infatuation. Fellini's use of colors and movement are at any point in the movie beautiful while simultaneously grotesque. See more 04/25/2017 I love Fellini's honesty and his ability to both indulge and laugh at himself- it's rarer than you might think. There's so many indulgently sexist parts to this movie but it's just always balanced out by absurdity and self awareness. This movie is really a more over the top 8 1/2 but with the focus on loving every woman ever-a general appreciation for women in all shapes, ages, and sizes. Sure, all told through the lens of the old 60s male gaze, but st least it never pretends to be anything but. Fellini really makes movies the way I dream, I can't get enough of it. See more 06/12/2016 I liked the feminist parts, but at the end, I don't think there was a lesson learned by any of the men See more Read all reviews
City of Women

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Cast & Crew

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Federico Fellini

Director

Marcello Mastroianni

Snàporaz

Anna Prucnal

Elena

Bernice Stegers

Woman on train

Jole Silvani

Motorcyclist (as Iole Silvani)

Donatella Damiani

Donatella (Woman on roller skates)

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City of Women

City of Women (1980) City of Women (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This surreal exploration of male and female sexuality follows Snaporaz (Marcello Mastroianni), an Italian train passenger who pursues a beautiful woman. Trailing the lovely lady through a forest, Snaporaz ends up at a hotel populated by women gathered for a feminist conference. He soon realizes that he is an unwelcome presence and must evade hostile women, with some aid provided by the seemingly kind Donatella (Donatella Damiani). Can Snaporaz escape this strange ultra-feminine reality?
Director
Federico Fellini
Producer
Franco Rossellini, Daniel Toscan du Plantier
Screenwriter
Federico Fellini, Brunello Rondi, Bernardino Zapponi
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 28, 1980, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Feb 19, 2016
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.2K
Runtime
2h 20m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.85:1)
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