the ugly earring

Fellini and Giulietta Masina

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In 1942, Fellini met Giulietta Masina, and a year later, on October 30, 1943, they were married. Thus began one of the great creative partnerships in world cinema. Several months after their marriage, Masina fell down the stairs and suffered a miscarriage. Then, on March 22, 1945, Pierfederico (nicknamed Federichino) was born but died a mere month later on April 24. These family tragedies affected the couple in profound ways, particularly in the conception of La strada (1954).

In 1993 Fellini received an Oscar “in recognition of his cinematic accomplishments that have thrilled and entertained audiences worldwide.” That same year, he died of a heart attack in Rome at the age of 73, a day after his fiftieth wedding anniversary on October 31st. Giulietta Masina died six months later of lung cancer on March 23 1994. Fellini, Giulietta Masina and their son Pierfederico are buried in the same bronze tomb sculpted by Arnaldo Pomodoro. Shaped like a ship’s prow in the water, the tomb is located at the main entrance to the Cemetery of Rimini.

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from here:

In 1993, when Mr. Fellini received a fifth Oscar for his life’s work from Sophia Loren and Mr. Mastroianni in Hollywood, he dedicated it to his wife, who was in the audience. “Please, Giulietta,” he said above the applause, “don’t cry.”