Federico Fellini vs. David Lynch

[DanielBenoit]

Okay, we all know that these guys are masters, but which one does surrealism better? Yeah I know, Lynch came after Fellini and is influenced by him, but both are so well known for their dream-like images, that we must compare the two.

In my opinion, it's Fellini all the way. Everything appears inferior with Fellini in the room. Lynch is a great director, but he has his imperfections and doesn't seem to reach the level of depth and beauty as Fellini's films do (though they both have very different directing styles, one being modern and another being postmodern).

Anyway, who's better? It might help if you've seen at least a few of their films, but here are some clips from their best works.

Fellini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceGxYrRaqxE - the Harem Scene from 8 1/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YozQlhdu4QU - the childhood dream sequence from 8 1/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmEqBdde5H0 - first dream from 8 1/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygr7De1wq6o - Dancing in the Mist from Amnacord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_99e25pmd5c - Fountain Scene from La Dolce Vita




Lynch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApMyMGRa7x4 - Club Silencio from Muholland Drive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlzTZNqCCZg - Winkies Dream from Muholland Drive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1V4v0CPyMo - Room 47 from Inland Empire (WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH8FEZvaiAI - Candy Colored Clown from Blue Velvet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05xm2eN-1VA - Agent Cooper's Dream from Twin Peaks

[manolia]

A tie :D

[Mathor]

I really like David Lynch's work, but Fellini gets my vote (for 8 1/2). However, Hitchcock was far better than both of them as far as surrealism goes.

[Emil Miller]

Fellini will be remembered long after David Lynch is forgotten.

[NickAdams]

I've seen only one film by Fellini (8 1/2), but most of Lynch and I think Lynch is closer to surrealism than Fellini. Fellini, from what I have seen uses dreams similar to the way Bergman used them in Wild Strawberries. You can point to it and say, "Yes, there's the dream sequence". But, Lynch is closer to Bunuel in that "reality and "dreams" are one (not counting Muholland Drive, although Winkies dream and Club Silencio are only scenes within the dream if you agree with the theory that the first two thirds are a dream). Lynch is a surrealist in that his reality follows dream logic and doesn't transition into them from reality like Fellini.

[vegana]

I like both of them when they don't put too much surrealism in their films (Amarcord, Blue Velvet). Surrealism is like soya sauce, makes all taste the same, you have to be very careful when you use it.