费里尼的《八部半》在半世纪之前首映时，以其大胆的风格震惊了全世界，电影的主角与本片导演费里尼构成了镜像关系，而影片故事则映身了本片的拍摄过程。攻击者挞伐《八部半》的自我沉溺，赞美者则称颂它的自觉意识。无论如何，作为集体创作的电影而位列个人创制的艺术品，《八部半》早已成为典范之作。众多大导演也从中吸取灵感，并通过自己的作品向其致敬。 本书阐释了《八部半》历久弥新的意义，并把它还原到各种语境之中，在条缕分析之后，力证了它的不朽价值。

When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.