Il Bidone (The Swindlers)

This film was made by Fellini in 1955, the second of his trilogy of loneliness (between 'La Strada' and 'Knight Of Cabiria). It is an excellent film.
The swindlers story examines both the affects of alienation of the individual, the lack of connections, and of the end of exuberance he would mine later so sensationally in 'La Dolce Vita'. The first theme is well told in its own local manner, through each character individually. Great balance is achieved through a secure pacing, at once giving each scene time to breathe while letting us switch from one to another without forgetting anyone for too long. In these themes themselves Fellini is a master of the small things; the little tics when talking to the daughter, the small slights in the marriage, the little pettinesses over the coats.
Fellini also has the ability to make the horrible things the swindlers do very entertaining in itself, through our identifaction with them we are able to at once enjoy their success (as though asking the viewer, how uneasy do you feel? Why don't you feel more awkward for glorifying in the exploitation?) and understand their fall, and how low and little these men really are.
Visually, this is classic Fellini, the close ups to the long shots. Also the expressive use of shadowns, particularly around Augusto and his hats, is a lovely touch. Fellini is a filmmaker for the big screen; his long shots that balance, harmonise, and tell his tale work best the larger the projection.
This film may not have the size and grandeur of his later masterpieces, feeling a little like a moral tale at times, but that doesn't hold it back from being an excellent little piece of work itself, as Fellini moves towards his later masterpieces. Good fun, well told, intelligent and witty.