Nanni Moretti
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Giovanni "Nanni" Moretti (; born 19 August 1953) is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His films have won accolades, including a at the
2001 Cannes Film Festival The 54th Cannes Film Festival took place from 9 to 20 May 2001. Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann was named Jury President for the main competition. Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti won the ''Palme d'Or'' for the drama film '' The Son's ...
for '' The Son's Room'', a
Silver Bear The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
at the 1986 Berlin Film Festival for '' The Mass is Ended'' and a
Silver Lion The Silver Lion (, also known as Silver Lion for Best Direction) is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film in the official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998. The prize has been awar ...
at the 1981 Venice Film Festival for '' Sweet Dreams'', in addition to the David di Donatello Award for Best Film on three occasions (for '' Caro diario'' in 1994, '' The Son's Room'' in 2001 and '' Il caimano'' in 2006). Every film he has directed since '' Caro diario'' has been shown at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
, and in 2012 he was the president of the Official Competition jury.


Life and work

Moretti was born in
Bruneck Bruneck (; or Ladin language, Ladin: ''Bornech'' or ''Burnech''; or ''Brunopolis'') is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italy, Italian province of South Tyrol. Geography Bruneck rises up in the middle of a wide valley (perhaps a ...
, Italy to Roman parents who were both teachers. His father was the late epigraphist Luigi Moretti, a Greek teacher at Sapienza University of Rome. His brother is literary scholar Franco Moretti. While growing up Moretti discovered his two passions, the cinema and water polo. Having finished his studies he pursued a career as a producer, and in 1973 directed his first two short films: ''Pâté de bourgeois'' and ''The Defeat'' () In 1976, Nanni Moretti's first feature film '' Io sono un autarchico'' (''I Am Self-Sufficient'') was released. In 1978, he wrote, directed and starred in the movie '' Ecce Bombo'', which tells the story of a student having problems with his entourage. It was screened at the Cannes Festival. ''
Sogni d'oro ''Sweet Dreams'' (, also known as ''Golden Dreams'') is a 1981 Italy, Italian Comedy film, comedy-drama film directed, written and starring Nanni Moretti. It entered the 38th Venice International Film Festival, in which won the Special Jury Prize ...
'' won the
Silver Lion The Silver Lion (, also known as Silver Lion for Best Direction) is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film in the official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998. The prize has been awar ...
at the 38th Venice International Film Festival. '' La messa è finita'' won the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the
36th Berlin International Film Festival The 36th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held 14–25 February 1986. The festival opened with '' Ginger and Fred'' by Federico Fellini, which played out of competition at the festival. The Golden Bear was awarded to West German ...
. He may be best known for his films '' Caro diario'' (''Dear Diary'', 1993; followed in 1998 by a sequel, '' Aprile'') and ''La stanza del figlio'' ('' The Son's Room'', 2001), the latter of which won the at the
2001 Cannes Film Festival The 54th Cannes Film Festival took place from 9 to 20 May 2001. Norwegian actress and director Liv Ullmann was named Jury President for the main competition. Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti won the ''Palme d'Or'' for the drama film '' The Son's ...
. Moretti has used certain actors several times in his films, generally playing minor roles. His father Luigi appears in 6 films, Dario Cantarelli and Mauro Fabretti in 5, Antonio Petrocelli in 4. More notable Italian actors he has employed frequently in his films include
Silvio Orlando Silvio Orlando (born 30 June 1957) is an Italian actor. Orlando was born and raised in Naples, where he started acting in theatre in 1976. He made his film debut in 1988 with a supporting role in the comedy '' Kamikazen: Last Night in Milan'', ...
, who appears in 5 films (including the role of protagonist in '' Il caimano'') and
Laura Morante Laura Morante (born 21 August 1956) is an Italian film actress. Life and career Morante was born in Santa Fiora, province of Grosseto (Tuscany), the daughter of lawyer and playwright Marcello Morante, who was the son of Irma (née Poggibonsi) ( ...
, who was featured in ''
Sogni d'oro ''Sweet Dreams'' (, also known as ''Golden Dreams'') is a 1981 Italy, Italian Comedy film, comedy-drama film directed, written and starring Nanni Moretti. It entered the 38th Venice International Film Festival, in which won the Special Jury Prize ...
'', ''
Bianca Bianca is a feminine given name. It means "white" and is an Italian cognate of Blanche. It is known in the Anglosphere as a character in William Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shrew''. It came to greater notice in the 1970s, due to public fi ...
'' and '' The Son's Room''. Having played waterpolo in the B division of the Italian championship, his experience later inspired his film '' Palombella Rossa'' ("palombella," which literally means "little pigeon," refers to a type of lob shot). His other work has not been widely seen outside Europe, but within his country Moretti is known as a maker of wryly humorous and eccentric films, usually starring himself. His most recent role was in the film '' Mia Madre'' (''My Mother'', 2015) Moretti is also an outspoken political leftist. In 2002, he organized street protests against the government of
Silvio Berlusconi Silvio Berlusconi ( ; ; 29 September 193612 June 2023) was an Italian Media proprietor, media tycoon and politician who served as the prime minister of Italy in three governments from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. He was a mem ...
. '' Il caimano'' (2006) is in part about Berlusconi's controversies: in one of the three portraits of the Italian prime minister Moretti himself plays Berlusconi. ''Aprile'' also deals with Italy's political situation and Moretti's views on it. His 2011 film '' We Have a Pope'' screened In Competition at the
2011 Cannes Film Festival The 64th Cannes Film Festival took place from 11 to 22 May 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition. American filmmaker Terrence Malick won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for t ...
. He lives in Rome, having been resident since birth, where he is co-owner of a small movie theater, Nuovo Sacher, named like this because of Moretti's passion for
Sachertorte Sachertorte ( , ; ) is a chocolate sponge cake covered with chocolate glaze, with an interior layer of apricot jam either under the glaze or in the middle of two sponge layers. The cake was invented by Franz Sacher, either in 1832 for Aus ...
. The short film, ''Il Giorno della prima di Close Up'' ('' Opening Day of Close-Up'', 1996), shows Moretti at his theatre attempting to encourage patrons to attend the opening day of Abbas Kiarostami's film, '' Close Up''. He is not religious. In his words, "I remember the shirts that said 'Thank God I'm an atheist'. Funny. But I do not think so. I'm not a believer and I'm sorry." His 2015 film '' Mia Madre'' was selected to compete for the at the
2015 Cannes Film Festival The 68th Cannes Film Festival took place from 13 to 24 May 2015. Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel Coen were the Co-Presidents of the Jury for the main competition, marking the first time that two people co-chaired the jury. Since the Coen brothers ...
. In April 2025, Moretti was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack.


Filmography


Director

* '' I Am Self Sufficient'' (''Io sono un autarchico'', 1976) * ''Un autarchico a palazzo'' (1977, TV movie) * '' Ecce bombo'' (1978) * '' Sweet Dreams'' (''Sogni d'oro'', 1981) * ''
Sweet Body of Bianca Sweetness is a basic taste most commonly perceived when eating foods rich in sugars. Sweet tastes are generally regarded as pleasurable. In addition to sugars like sucrose, many other chemical compounds are sweet, including aldehydes, ketones, ...
'' (''Bianca'', 1984) * '' The Mass Is Ended'' (''La messa è finita'', 1985) * '' Red Wood Pigeon'' (''Palombella Rossa'', 1989) * '' Caro diario'' (1993) * ''
April April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Its length is 30 days. April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the ...
'' (''Aprile'',1998) * '' The Son's Room'' (''La stanza del figlio'', 2001) * '' Il caimano'' (2006) * '' We Have a Pope'' (''Habemus Papam'', 2011) * '' Mia Madre'' (''Mia madre'', 2015) * '' Three Floors'' (''Tre piani'', 2021) * '' A Brighter Tomorrow'' (''Il sol dell'avvenire'', 2023)


Short films

* ''La sconfitta'' (1973 short) * ''Pâté de bourgeois'' (1973 short) * ''The Only Country In The World'' (''L'unico paese al mondo'', 1994 short) * '' Opening Day of Close-Up'' (''Il Giorno della prima di Close Up'', 1996 short) * ''The Last Customer'' (2002 short) * ''Il grido d'angoscia dell'uccello predatore'' (2003 short) * ''L'ultimo campionato'' (2007 short) * ''Diary Of A Moviegoer'' (''Diario di uno spettatore'', 2007 short of '' To Each His Own Cinema'') * ''Film Quiz'' (2008 short) * ''Scava dolcemente l'addome'' (2013 short) * ''Autobiografia dell'uomo mascherato'' (2013 short) * ''Ischi allegri e clavicole sorridenti'' (2017 short) * ''Piazza Mazzini'' (2017 short)


Documentaries

* ''Come parli frate?'' (1974 medium) * ''The Thing'' (''La cosa'', 1990 medium) * ''Santiago'' (2018 documentary)


Actor only

* '' Father and Master'' (''Padre padrone'', 1977) – directed by
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Paolo Taviani (; 8 November 1931 – 29 February 2024) and Vittorio Taviani (; 20 September 1929 – 15 April 2018), collectively referred to as the Taviani brothers, were Italian film directors and screenwriters who collaborated on numerous fi ...
* ''Riso in bianco: Nanni Moretti atleta di se stesso'' (TV movie, 1984) – directed by Marco Colli * ''
It's Happening Tomorrow ''It's Happening Tomorrow'' () is a 1988 Italian comedy film directed by Daniele Luchetti. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Paolo Hendel as Lupo * Giovanni Guidelli as Edo * Margherit ...
'' (''Domani accadrà'', 1988) – directed by
Daniele Luchetti Daniele Luchetti () is an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor. Life and career Luchetti was born in Rome. He debuted as assistant director for Nanni Moretti in ''Bianca (1984 film), Bianca'' (1983) and ''The Mass Is Ended'' (1985). L ...
* '' The Yes Man'' (''Il portaborse'', 1991) – directed by
Daniele Luchetti Daniele Luchetti () is an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor. Life and career Luchetti was born in Rome. He debuted as assistant director for Nanni Moretti in ''Bianca (1984 film), Bianca'' (1983) and ''The Mass Is Ended'' (1985). L ...
* '' The Second Time'' (''La seconda volta'', 1995) – directed by
Mimmo Calopresti Mimmo Calopresti (born 4 January 1955 in Polistena, Calabria) is an Italian film director, screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, ...
* '' I Can See It in Your Eyes'' (2004) – directed by Valia Santella – cameo * '' Quiet Chaos'' (''Caos calmo'', 2008) – directed by
Antonello Grimaldi Antonio Luigi Grimaldi, known as Antonello Grimaldi (born 14 August 1955) is an Italian actor, film director, film and television director, and screenwriter. Biography Grimaldi was born on 14 August 1955 in Sassari on the island of Sardinia in ...
* ''Venanzio Revolt: i miei primi 80 anno di cinema'' (2016) – directed by Fabrizio Dividi, Marta Evangelisti, Vincenzo Greco – narrator *'' The Hummingbird'' (2022)


Awards

*
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
**
Prix de la mise en scène The Best Director Award () is an award presented annually at the Cannes Film Festival since 1946. It is given for the best achievement in directing and is chosen by the International Jury from the films in the Competition slate at the festival. ...
1994: '' Caro diario'' ** 2001: '' The Son's Room'' **Prix de la
FIPRESCI The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for ''Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique'') is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the wor ...
2001: ''The Son's Room'' **Carrosse d'Or 2004 **Rome's Award 2006: '' Il caimano'' **Ecumenical Prize 2015: '' Mia madre'' *
Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...
** Silver Lion – Special Jury Prize 1981: '' Sweet Dreams'' **"Bastone Bianco" Filmcritic Award 1989: '' Red Wood Pigeon'' *
Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...
** Silver Bear – Jury Grand Prix 1986: '' The Mass Is Ended'' **Jury C.I.C.A.E Award 1986: ''The Mass Is Ended'' *
Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...
**Golden Plaque for Best Documentary Short Film 2003: ''The Last Customer'' **Silver Plaque for Best Screenplay 2008: '' Quiet Chaos'' *
European Film Awards The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mos ...
**
FIPRESCI The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI, short for ''Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique'') is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the wor ...
Prize 1994: '' Caro diario'' *
São Paulo International Film Festival The São Paulo International Film Festival (), also known internationally as Mostra, is an annual film festival held in the city of São Paulo, Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South Ame ...
**Critics Award 1990: '' Red Wood Pigeon'' * Sudbury Cinéfest **Best International Film 1994: '' Caro diario'' *Sant Jordi Awards **Best Foreign Film 1995: '' Caro diario'' *Guild of German Art House Cinemas **Guild Film Award – Silver 2002: '' The Son's Room'' *
David di Donatello The David di Donatello Awards, named after Donatello's ''David (Donatello, bronze), David'', a symbolic statue of the Italian Renaissance, are film awards given out each year by the ''Accademia del Cinema Italiano'' (the Academy of Italian Cin ...
**Alitalia Award 1986 **Golden Medal of the City of Rome 1986 **Best Actor 1991: '' The Yes Man'' **Best Film 1994: '' Caro diario'' **Best Film 2001: '' The Son's Room'' **Best Film 2006: '' Il caimano'' **Best Director 2006: '' Il caimano'' **Best Producer 2006: '' Il caimano'' **Best Documentary 2019: ''Santiago'' *
Silver Ribbon The (plural: ''Nastri d'Argento''; English: Silver Ribbon) is an Italian film award, held since 1946 by the ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani'' (Italian National Union of Film Journalists). Awards are given annually in ...
**Best Story 1978: '' Ecce Bombo'' **Best Producer 1988: ''
It's Happening Tomorrow ''It's Happening Tomorrow'' () is a 1988 Italian comedy film directed by Daniele Luchetti. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Paolo Hendel as Lupo * Giovanni Guidelli as Edo * Margherit ...
'' **Best Story 1990: '' Red Wood Pigeon'' **Best Producer 1992: '' The Yes Man'' **Best Director 1994: '' Caro diario'' **Best Producer 1996: '' The Second Time'' **Best Director 2001: '' The Son's Room'' **Best Producer 2007: '' Il caimano'' **Best Director 2011: '' We Have a Pope'' **Best Story 2011: ''We Have a Pope'' **Best Producer 2011: ''We Have a Pope'' **Ribbon of the Year 2019: ''Santiago'' *
Ciak d'oro ''Ciak'' is a popular Italian film magazine published in Milan, Italy. It is the most popular film magazine in Italy. The title is the Italian word (also spelled ''ciac'') for a film clapperboard. History and profile ''Ciak'' was established in ...
Awards **Best Director 1986: '' The Mass Is Ended'' **Best Screenplay 1986: ''The Mass Is Ended'' **Best Director 1990: '' Red Wood Pigeon'' **Best Film 1994: '' Caro diario'' **Best Director 1994: ''Caro diario'' **Best Screenplay 1994: ''Caro diario'' **Best Film 2001: '' The Son's Room'' **Best Director 2001: ''The Son's Room'' **Best Film 2006: '' Il caimano'' **Best Director 2006: ''Il caimano'' **Best Screenplay 2006: ''Il caimano'' **Best Film 2011: '' We Have a Pope'' **Best Screenplay 2011: ''We Have a Pope'' **Best Director 2015: '' Mia madre'' **Honorary Ciak d'oro 2019 *UBU Awards **Best Italian Movie 1977/78: '' Ecce Bombo'' **Best Actor 1984/85: ''
Sweet Body of Bianca Sweetness is a basic taste most commonly perceived when eating foods rich in sugars. Sweet tastes are generally regarded as pleasurable. In addition to sugars like sucrose, many other chemical compounds are sweet, including aldehydes, ketones, ...
'' * Globi d'oro Awards **Best Debut 1977: '' I Am Self Sufficient'' **Best Film 1994: '' Caro diario'' **Best Film 2011: '' We Have a Pope'' * Cahiers du cinéma **Best Film 1989: '' Red Wood Pigeon'' (ex equo with '' Do the Right Thing'') **Best Film 1994: '' Caro diario'' **Best Film 2011: '' We Have a Pope'' **Best Film 2015: '' Mia madre''


References


Further reading

* Chatrian, Carlo & Eugenio Renzi. ''Conversations avec Nanni Moretti'', Paris, 2008, Editions des Cahiers du cinéma. * Mazierska, Ewa & Laura Rascaroli
''The Cinema of Nanni Moretti''
Wallflower, 2004.


External links



filmlinc.com; accessed 12 December 2014. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Moretti, Nanni 1953 births Living people Male actors from Rome Italian film directors Italian humanists Italian screenwriters Italian male screenwriters Italian male film actors Italian film producers Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director winners David di Donatello winners Ciak d'oro winners European Film Awards winners (people) Nastro d'Argento winners Directors of Palme d'Or winners People of Venetian descent People of Campanian descent