Are you assuming Marcelo is some kind of autobiographical figure such as the youth in 'I Vitelloni' who escapes the town? Obviously, Marcello isn't in 'I Vitelloni' so I was just wondering if you're placing this autobiographical context into 'La Dolce Vita'. The portrayal of innocence seems pretty important to Fellini and this girl on the beach is some kind of metonym for a simpler existence than the Dionysian characters Marcello hangs out with. I think the film has a little to say about attitudes and difference and something to say about lost innocence. Is it a great film? 'La Dolce Vita' seems to me somewhat over praised. But I'm not all that hip to Fellini. 'Nights of Cabiria' plucks emotively, 'The White Sheik' is good early work (with Antonioni influence), 'Eight and a Half' is clearly more internally revealing of Fellini. . . :)