Fellini's memory piece is less concerned with narrative than with the accumulation of moments, each one contributing to a portrait of adolescence under the shadow of fascism. Through the character of Titta, the film captures the strange mixture of innocence, curiosity, and confusion that defines youth. The imagery is vivid and often surreal, but it is the emotional undercurrent that gives the film it's staying power. Winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, it remains one of Fellini's most personal works.