Not until the worldwide acclaim for "La Dolce Vita" in 1960 did he give free rein to his fantasies.

WSJ: 8?: A Flawed Filmmaker's Life Turned Into Art by Peter Cowie

In 2008 the authorities won praise from around the world for their quick response to the Sichuan earthquake and their unusual decision to give journalists free rein to visit the affected area.

ECONOMIST: Earthquake in China

But how often does your lawyer give you free rein to go ahead and hate the entire profession.

FORBES: It's OK to Hate Lawyers

Today, many videogames involve complex fictional worlds and give players free rein to create and shape characters including the chance to mold their moral compass.

WSJ: Radical Videogamers Go on Nonkilling Spree

The United Nations Commission and other experts may fear that acknowledging an armed conflict in Syria will give both sides free rein to use military force.

CNN: Syria must be held to the law of war

Yet the biggest hurdle for the libertarian start-ups may be that the transparency commission, which will oversee the development regions, is unlikely to give them free rein.

ECONOMIST: Free cities

Encouragingly, the government seems to have decided that the best way to revive the motor industry is to give foreign investors free rein.

ECONOMIST: Industry in Russia

More and more young workers are choosing to turn away from the corporate world to take their chances with smaller, faster-growing firms where they have the opportunity to do more, have more fun, and give their personality free rein.

ECONOMIST: A survey of the young