Documentary reveals Padre Pio's blessing behind Fellini's La Dolce Vita

Giuseppe Pedersoli's documentary "La Verità sulla Dolce Vita" premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in the documentary section, uncovering behind-the-scenes stories of Federico Fellini's 1960 masterpiece. The film reveals that producer Peppino Amato sought and received approval from Padre Pio before financing the project, with the saint reportedly saying God agreed. Pedersoli, grandson of Amato and son of Bud Spencer, used family anecdotes, diaries, correspondence, and accounting documents. The docufiction blends archival footage, interviews, and reenactments, though the fictional scenes are considered its weakest aspect. Key revelations include Dino De Laurentiis breaking with Fellini over casting Marcello Mastroianni, wanting an American star like Paul Newman; the dispute was resolved by swapping films, with De Laurentiis giving Amato the script for La Dolce Vita in exchange for Monicelli's La Grande Guerra. Fellini reconstructed Via Veneto at Cinecittà to avoid traffic and flatten the street's slope for shots. The budget doubled from 400 to 800 million lire, forcing Amato into debt. Three hundred thousand meters of film were shot, with four hours of edited footage reluctantly cut. The film was initially met with scandal and accusations of indecency, but Amato understood its revolutionary impact. The documentary also features interviews with Mastroianni, Fellini, and Amato's daughter.