May 31 - Paolo Sorrentino

Happy 50th Birthday, Paolo Sorrentino! Born today in 1970, this Italian writer, screenwriter and film director makes a lot more sense in the moment than he does in immediate retrospect, and it becomes less and less plausible when certain tastemakers insist on forwarding him as a going concern.  

  

Sorrentino would be easy to set aside as a case of local product, slightly damaged in transit, were it not for the fact that the Cannes Film Festival put him so aggressively on the map. 

  

Among his credits, Sorrentino is best known for producing and directing the 2004 Italian psychological thriller drama film 'Le conseguenze dell'amore' ('The Consequences of Love'). 

  

Set in an upmarket Swiss hotel, middle-aged loner Titta di Girolamo (Toni Servillo) has spent the last eight years living a rigid and tedious life, sitting by a lake day after day.  

  

After years of waiting for something, although he doesn't 
know what, he begins to talk to Sophia (Olivia Magnani), the hotel's barmaid. 

As he tells his story to her, everything changes... 

  

Sorrentino is also best known for conceiving, writing and directing the 2013 Italian art drama/comedy film 'La Grande Bellezza' ('The Great Beauty'). 

  

Aging writer Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) has spent many years seducing his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades. However, after his 65th birthday, he starts to look past the nightclubs and parties to find a landscape of exquisite beauty. 

  

The following year, the film won the Golden Globe, Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This occurred at the 71st Golden Globes, the 67th British Academy Film Awards and the 86th Academy Awards, respectively. 

  

Later that same year in Italy, Sorrentino was honored with five David di Donatello and six Nastro d'Argento. This occurred at the 58th David di Donatello Awards and the 68th Nastro d'Argento Awards, respectively. 

  

Sorrentino has been active from 1994–present. 

  

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