Preguntas Frecuentes

8½ is based on an original screenplay by Italian director Federico Fellini (1920-1993). Although not meant to be autobiographical, it tells the story of a man suffering from "director's block," something from which Fellini also suffered at the time.

8½ stands for the number of movies that Frederico Fellini had directed to this point. He had previously directed six full-length feature films: (1) El jeque blanco (1952), (2) Los inútiles (1953), (3) La calle (1954), (4) Alma sin conciencia (1955), (5) Las noches de Cabiria (1957), and (6) La dulce vida (1960). He had collaborated with Alberto Lattuada to film Luces de variedad (1950) and directed two short segments: (1) "Un Agenzia Matrimoniale" from El amor se paga (1953) and (2) "Le Tentazioni del Dottor Antonio" from Boccaccio '70 (1962). These six full-length films, the three latter projects that he counted for ½ points each, plus this film added to 8½. The working title for 8½ was La Bella Confusione.

Several different types of sunglasses have been suggested, from Dior to Persols, from Chanel to Raybans. They are Pradas. One enterprising viewer actually contacted Prada and was told that the glasses worn by Guido (Marcello Mastroianni) in 8½ are Prada model SPR07F. However, there have been some design changes since the 1960s. New Prada SPR07F cost 200 USD. A vintage pair like the ones worn by Guido was estimated by the people at Prada to cost 2,000 to 2,500 USD. See all Prada sunglasses for more information.