At the pinnacle of his illustrious career, film director Guido Anselmi finds himself at a loss for creative inspiration. Anselmi is told by his physicians that he has to relax, so he travels to an opulent resort. However, while he is there, a pitiful gathering gathers, consisting of his producer, staff, performers, wife, mistress, and family, all of whom ask him to continue with the performance. He escapes from their dependence by daydreaming about former lovers and reliving happy moments from his boyhood.