This was an odd film, and perhaps more accurately, an odd experience. It is one of those films that depends so little on story, that to try and explain the plot is to risk detracting from the film itself. It played more like a feverish dream and/or nightmare than a dynamic story. We do follow a character or two, but what they do and what happens to them has little to no consequence to what happens next.
You could loosely summarise it as the last days of Rome - the expression oft used to depict excessive pleasure seeking behavioir - condensed on film. But personally I would say it's more of an unhinged journey through the deepest, darkest excesses of human nature when there is no consideration of consequence, reason or even conscience. It painted the picture of the kinf of world that other films, especially those based in the ancient world, may reference in brief scenes, but Satyricon never left it.
In it's discontinuity, I found myself drawing comparisons with Russian Arc, in no other sense than it felt like a string of scenario evocations, in this case, a barely coherent/cohesive collection of sequences. This is not to say that the film is poorly made or without merit, it is without doubt how Federico Fellini, undoubtedly a master of cinema, intended it to be. There is no lack of vivid imagery, momorable moments and impressive sets, but would I recommend it? Well, yes and no. To a casual moviegoer - certainly not. But to somebody interested in cinema history, or exploring the wildly varying effects cinematic art can have on the human conciousness, certainly. I belong firmly in the second camp, so I enjoyed it. As I have said before, films of this kind of unflinching vision always deserve plaudits, whether they strike a chord with me or not. I probably won't be watching it again, but I'm glad I did.
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