Wednesday, August 19, 2020

August 19 - Nanni Moretti


Happy 57th Birthday, Nanni Moretti! Born today in 1953 as Giovanni "Nanni" Moretti, this Italian actor, screenwriter, producer and film director is an intensely private and independent individual. 

While growing up, Moretti discovered his two passions: the cinema and water polo. 

Having finished his studies, he then pursued a career as a producer, and in the early 1970s. 

He later wrote and directed his first two short films. These were the twenty-six-minute 1973 Italian short film 'Pâté de bourgeois' ('Bourgeois pâté') and the twenty-six-minute 1973 Italian short film 'La sconfitta' ('The Defeat'). 


In the early 1980s, Moretti wrote, directed and starred in the 1981 Italian comedy/drama film 'Sogni d'oro' ('Sweet Dreams'). 


It later won the Silver Lion at the 38th Venice International Film Festival in September of that same year. 


Four years later, Moretti wrote, directed and starred in the 1985 Italian drama/comedy-drama film 'La messa è finita' ('The Mass Is Ended'). 


The following year, it won the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival in February. 


In the early 1990s, Moretti wrote, co-produced, directed and starred in the first film of which he is best known. This was the 1993 Italian-French semi-autobiographical comedy/drama film 'Caro Diario' ('Dear Diary').  


The film is structured in the three anthological episodes. The first is called Chapter I: In Vespa (On My Vespa), Chapter II: Isole (Islands), and Chapter III: Medici (Doctors). 


It follows Moretti (as himself) as he goes on each disparate journeyAlong the way, he describes his thoughts about various slice of life situations. 


First, he rides through Rome on a scooter, musing on cinema, and has a chance encounter with actress Jennifer Beals (as herself).  


Next, Moretti and his friend, Gerardo (Renato Carpentieri), tour a number of islands searching for a peaceful place to write a screenplay.  


And finally, Moretti, hampered by a nagging skin rash, goes from doctor to doctor looking for the right diagnosis, which may or may not turn out to be severe. 


The following year, 'Dear Diary' was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 47th Cannes Film Festival. However, Moretti won the Best Director Award instead. This occurred in May 1994. 


Seven years later, Moretti wrote, co-produced, directed and starred in the second and final film of which he is best known. This was the 2001 Italian drama film 'La stanza del figlio' ('The Son's Room').  


The film tells of a family living together in a small Northern Italian city. The parents are Giovanni and Paola Sermonti (Moretti and Laura Morante).  


Their children are two teenage children, being Irene (Jasmine Trinca), and Andrea (Giuseppe Sanfelice), the younger son.  


Although a film about the tale of a happy, middle class family, their lives are eventually turned upside-down when the teenage son dies in a tragic accident. Thereafter, it depicts the psychological effects on each individual member. 


Filmed in and around the city of Ancona, 'The Son's Room' competed at the 54th Cannes Film Festival in May of that same year. 


It won numerous awards, including the Palme d'Or (in jury Italian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor Mimmo Calopresti) and the David di Donatello for Best Film. 


It is Moretti’s auteur creates moving, incisive, and humorous portraits of life, filtered through a unique worldview. 


Working in every aspect of the business from producer to actor, rarely speaking to journalists or appearing in public, Moretti has claimed that he is not a film director in the traditional sense, but a man who makes a film when he has something to say.  


In many ways the epitome of independent filmmaking, marked by Moretti's trenchant social commentary and telling performances, his films often reflect his fiercely independent and opinionated perspective, garnished with a dash of humor for impact. 


As well as making films, Moretti also takes an active part in leftwing politics and several of his films have dealt with the Italian left's ongoing identity crisis. 


Moretti has been active from 1976–present. 


#borntoact 

#borntodirect 

@eccenanni 

@RogerEbert 

@kanopy 

@mubi 

@newyorker 

@theguardian 

@austrianfilmmuseum

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