La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita - Anita Ekberg
La Dolce Vita, an Italian expression meaning “the sweet life,” or “the good life,” is not only the name of a film made by Federico Fellini in 1960, but it is also the name of a magazine which brings Italian style to its readers, the name of a spa in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the name of a restaurant in Ottawa, Canada.
La Dolce Vita, the film by Federico Fellini was the first and original La Dolce. Starring Marcello Mastroianni as a celebrity journalist who dithers between the frivolous life of the celebrity world and the domesticity and constraints of life with his girlfriend, he is in search of “the meaning of life.” It is the story of his journey in search of the ideals of love and happiness which are so difficult for most to find. The film also stars 1950s-60s sex symbol, Anita Ekberg, with the enormous breasts (which were real, by the way), long blond hair, the stunning female icon from the days when men were men and women were women, some old timers might moan. Like many of Fellini’s films which sway between the absurd and sublime vision, this film is regarded as one of the greatest films in cinematic history. The film was banned by the Vatican for mocking the second coming of Christ and censored in some mainly Catholic countries. Many of Fellini’s films are now regarded as “art films” by the serious film fan audience. Read an indepth study of the film at Wikipedia.
The second “La Dolce Vita,” is the sleek, quarterly glam online magazine of Italian style which presents to the reader the best of Italian culture, the icons, the fashions, the design, the cuisine and travel in Italy. They have a website, but currently it is undergoing reconstruction so one cannot say more than that about the magazine, unless you rush out to your local international newspaper store to purchase a big, shiny copy. Quel dommage, I’m still in my pyjamas.
The third “La Dolce Vita,” is a restaurant on Preston Street in Ottawa offering Italian food. Would I go there? Well, judging from the rather boring brown, blah website they have, I’ve got to say “NO!”. There’s nothing appealing about the website and therefore, no reason to visit their restaurant and sample their fresh Italian cuisine.
And lastly, I found another “La Dolce Vita” website for a day spa in Halifax, Canada, offering just about every spa rejuvenating service you could imagine. Would I go there? Well, if I was looking for absolutely divine rejuvenation, the answer is no. The website is not sleek, not beautiful, nor elegant. Remember, after visiting a spa and spending big bucks to look and feel beautiful, I want to see a beautiful, sleek and gorgeous website that entices me, promising me eternal youth and beauty. The website looks like it was designed by a complete amateur. Give me pretty or I won’t go.
So, there you have it, if you are searching for the meaning of “La Dolce Vita” and may you, unlike Marcello Mastroianni find the meaning of love and happiness in your beautiful, sweet life.
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