The Clowns

Between Satyricon and Roma, Fellini made this rather more modest curio for Italian TV, a mix of narrative, documentary and mockumentary that explores his childhood obsession – part joy, bounty dread – with circus clowns. It starts with a recreated memory of the Huge Top coming to town, and ends with painted jesters coming out of retirement to stage an outlandish funeral for one of their fallen brethren.

In between, Fellini and crew investigate the splendid European clowns of yore, and film themselves doing it. By turns magical and ponderous, this insignificant work spotlights the life-is-a-circus theme glimpsed in many of his other films.