“Fellini 101” has premiered at the Cinematheque, and its meaning is dual: It’s a crash course of master filmmaker Federico Fellini’s greatest hits, as well as a commemoration of his 101st birthday. Featuring brand new 4K restorations of all of his essential works and even a few deeper, more controversial cuts, the retrospective is a wonderful opportunity for a new generation of film lovers to discover and truly appreciate one of the greats.

His works may have garnered immense praise but he has been given very little earnest consideration in the 21st century, and this event gives him a chance to shine. Kicking off the event was the film that fans cite as his most formative: “I vitelloni,” the story of five 20-to-30-year-old do-nothings who frolic and fester around a small seaside town on the Adriatic coast.