The Good the Bad and the Ugly

Much likeFrench cinema , Italian movie theater has encounter a huge role in shaping motion picture all over the world . While the French are have it off for the French New Wave movement , the Italians are notable for the Italian neorealism movement and the Spaghetti Western .

But there is more to Italian cinema than just the old classics . There are many top Italian directors who have lately make accolade - winning movie - like Paolo Sorrentino’sThe Great Beautyor Bernardo Bertolucci’sThe Dreamers- that have gone on to become critically acclaimed and deemed as modern classic . Yet , to fully understand what makesItalian cinemaso great , it ’s worth attend at its most salient representatives .

Pier Paolo Pasolini

A controversial figure even to this twenty-four hours , Pier Paolo Pasolini made an impingement in both European cinema and literature . Throughout his work , he would often set about taboo matter in a blunt manner , which resulted in both praise and denouncement from the hearing . Moreover , Pasolini was openly gay from the start of his calling , as well as quite politically active .

His vocation as a director begin in 1961 , with the firing ofAccattone , which Pasolini also spell . One of his most well - known works is 1968’sTeorema , which is so ambiguous that scholars and critic are still trying to realise its truthful meaning . His most renowned film , however , is 1975’sSalo , which was released three hebdomad after Pasolini ’s murder . Salois still ostracise in some nation due to its graphic and controversial content .

Elio Petri

Speaking of political directors , Elio Petri is the one who get to mind when discussing movies with unattackable political messages . But this aspect of Petri ’s oeuvre is just what made him famous and lead him to success .

His most acclaimed films are the 1970’sInvestigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion , which won theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film , and 1971’sThe Working Class Goes to Heaven , which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival . The former search the stem of putrefaction in the high office , while the latter focalize on the working class and its office in the system .

Pietro Germi

Often considered an underrated film maker , Pietro Germi was popular in his home country at the time of the release of his movies but gained importantly less external success than his coeval and herald . Yet , some of his deeds did get ahead awards beyond simply being commercially successful .

Though Germi shift to comedy midway in his career , almost all of his motion-picture show examined Italian bon ton in different way . His most famous employment is 1961’sDivorce Italian Style , which succeed the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and got nominated in the Best Actor category . His other well - acknowledge film is 1964’sSeduced and give up , which was entered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and get ahead the Best Actor prize .

Paolo Sorrentino

When it come to modern Italian directors , Paolo Sorrentino is the first name that comes to mind . He has been honored both in his country and internationally , praised by critic , and won awards .

Sorrentino ’s directorial unveiling was 2001’sOne Man Up , but his most well - experience work to date is 2013’sThe Great Beauty , which acquire the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards , Golden Globes , and BAFTA Awards . His more recent moving-picture show , 2015’sYouth , was nominated for major awards , include Oscars .

Roberto Rossellini

Considered one of the most important directors of the Italian neorealist bm , Roberto Rossellini was even regarded by Francois Truffaut as a major influence on French cinema , specially for inspiring the French New Wave motility . Throughout his career , Rossellini became more and more experimental and unconventional .

In the forties , he organize a bit of Italian neorealist film that are particularly remembered today , includingRome , Open City , which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and was nominate forthe Academy Awardfor Best Adapted Screenplay , Paisan , which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the BAFTA Award for Best Film , andGermany , Year Zero . The three are sometimes considered to be Rossellini ’s unofficial warfare picture trilogy .

Bernardo Bertolucci

unluckily , the corking Bernardo Bertolucci passed away just two years ago , but his vocation spanned five tenner and was fill up with legion successful movies . In fact , Bertolucci was introduce the Honorary Palme d’Or at the 2011 ’s Cannes Film Festival to recognize his work .

Bertolucci made his directorial introduction with 1962’sLa Commare Secca , which was based on a myopic fib by none other than Pier Paolo Pasolini . Bertolucci ’s gravid break , however , happen with 1970’sThe Conformist , which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay . He followed that success with 1972’sLast Tango in Paris , which got him nomination for Best Director Academy Award and Golden Globe Award . His most well - known film is 1987’sThe Last Emperor , which won multiple Oscars , Golden Globes , the BAFTA Award for Best Film , and others . Bertolucci ’s more recent flick , The Dreamers , is now look at a cult classic .

Luchino Visconti

While Rossellini was a prominent figure in the Italian neorealist effort , Luchino Visconti was its father . His films consistently got nominated for and won such awards as the Palme d’Or ( Cannes Film Festival ) , the Silver and Golden Lions ( Venice International Film Festival ) , Academy Awards , and BAFTAs .

Visconti made his directorial debut with 1943’sObsession , which is often considered to be the first - ever Italian neorealist film . Some of his most well - recognize works include 1960’sRocco and His Brothers , 1963’sThe Leopard(which wonthe Palme d’Or at Cannes ) , and 1971’sDeath in Venice .

Vittorio De Sica

Vittorio De Sica ’s films are often abduce as some of the most influential movies ever made - not just for Italian , but for world cinema . Indeed , the success of his earlier works even incentivized the Academy to create a freestanding class for foreign films .

De Sica made his entry by co - directing 1940’sRed Roseswith Giuseppe Amato , but his first really recognized oeuvre was 1946’sShoeshine , which have an honorary Academy Award . His 1948 dramaBicycle Thievesalso received this honour and is systematically named one of the greatest moving-picture show ever made . De Sica ’s later works would go on to be nominate for and win multiple awards , including Academy Awards . His other well - hump pic areUmberto D.,Two fair sex , Yesterday , Today and Tomorrow , Marriage Italian Style , andThe Garden of the Finzi - Continis .

Federico Fellini

When it comes to having a typical artistic style , Federico Fellini is one of the most well - roll in the hay theatre director who is truly considered an auteur . Even to this day , Fellini is see as one of the groovy and most influential filmmakers of all clip .

Fellini come out out as a film writer and even co - wrote some of Roberto Rossellini ’s films . His first appearance was 1950’sVariety Lights , which Fellini atomic number 27 - aim with Alberto Lattuada . The first openhanded outside success come to Fellini with 1954’sLa Strada , which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film . His 1957 dramaNights of Cabiriaalso won this awarding , as did 1963’s8 1/2which is now considered one of the greatest film ever made . Fellini’sLa Dolce Vitawon the Palme d’Or at Cannes , while his other notable whole shebang includeJuliet of the Spirits , Fellini Satyricon , 1972’sRoma , Amarcord , andFellini ’s Casanova .

Sergio Leone

Arguably the most well - screw and successful Italian director outside of his own country is none other than Sergio Leone , who is credit for inventing an entire genre -the Spaghetti Western . Like Fellini , Leone is often cite as one of the most influential director of all clip .

Before transition to directing , Leone take on various filmmaking job , from screenwriter to assistant managing director . Apart from 1961’sThe Colossus of Rhodes , which was his directorial debut , Leone is known for his two unofficial trilogy : theDollars Trilogy(A Fistful of Dollars , For a Few dollar More , andThe Good , the Bad and the Ugly ) with Clint Eastwood in the championship roles and theOnce Upon a Time Trilogy(Once Upon a sentence in the West , Duck , You Sucker ! , andOnce Upon a meter in America ) .

NEXT:10 Zombie Movies That Prove The Italians Did It Best

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Italian Directors

Pier Paolo Pasolini Movies

Elio Petri

Pietro Germi Movies

Paolo Sorrentino Movies

Roberto Rossellini

Bernardo Bertolucci Movies

Luchino Visconti Movies

Vittorio De Sica

Federico Fellini Movies

Sergio Leone Movies

The Good the Bad and the Ugly