What do you do when you meet the man of your dreams right after your wedding? Depending on where they came from, or how famous they are, it’s a scenario that’s not likely to happen, but the chance is never zero. It’s this chance encounter that drives the events of The White Sheik. Alternating between Wanda’s spontaneous on-set encounter, and Ivan’s scrambling search and excuses to appease the family, the film hilariously piles on every mishap, keeping the two separated and stuck in the situations they stumble into, but writer-director Federico Fellini doesn’t poke fun at the country folk’s expense, instead, empathizing with Ivan’s worry and Wanda’s disappointment in the trip they took on. The titular star may have proven that you should never meet your heroes, but The White Sheik nonetheless hinted at the cinema that was to come, as Fellini’s first solo directing stint, as well as introducing Fellini’s wife Giuletta Masini as Cabiria.
In Italy, small-town newlyweds Wanda and Ivan Cavalli embark on their honeymoon in the big city of Rome. Ivan dutifully wants to keep appointments with family and church, but Wanda is only interested in meeting her favorite photo-strip star known as "The White Sheik". While Wanda impetuously sneaks away to locate the object of her affections, disconsolate Ivan tries his hardest to keep up appearances with the couple's relatives.
While in Rome for their honeymoon, small-town newlyweds Wanda and Ivan Cavalli are all set for their visits with the family and the Pope, but Wanda discovers she has a chance to meet the star from her favorite photonovels, The White Sheik.
A film like this could have easily made fun of Wanda, and to a certain extent, it does, but never in a demeaning way, as it gives her all the possible reasons to indulge in that dream, at least until she discovers the truth.
Imagine this but with today’s idols… I feel for you, Wanda, I really do.
Venice
1 nomination
