AllMovie

In Federico Fellini's last theatrical film Intervista, he appears on camera as the subject of a fabricated filmed documentary. This took place for real back in 1969, and the result was the entertaining (if not too enlightening) 55-minute Ciao Federico! Fellini Directs Satyricon. We watch as Fellini assembles his actors, bit players, clowns, jugglers, and technicians to put together his own special squint at the 1st century works of Roman satirist Petronius. Documentary director Gideon Bachmann keeps a respectful distance, but does his best to pick Fellini's brain concerning the director's unique creative process; and, as usual, Fellini offers conflicting, contrary information whenever it amuses him to do so. A piquant moment in Ciao Federico! is the presence of the late Sharon Tate, who visits the Satyricon set in the company of her husband Roman Polanski; this may well be the last-ever film footage of the tragic Tate.