Nanni Moretti

Giovanni "Nanni" Moretti (born August 19, 1953) is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. In January 2012, he was announced as the President of the Jury at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.^[1]

Life and work[link]

Moretti was born in Bruneck, South Tyrol (northern Italy), in 1953 to parents who were teachers. His father was the late epigraphist Luigi Moretti, an influential Greek teacher at Rome La Sapienza.

While growing up he 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: Pate de bourgeois and La sconfitta (the defeat).

In 1976, his first feature film Io sono un autarchico (I am Self-Sufficient) was released. Subsequently in 1978, he produced the movie Ecce Bombo, which tells the story of a student having problems with his entourage. It was screened at the Cannes Festival. His film Sogni d'oro won the Silver Lion at the 38th Venice International Film Festival. His 1985 film La messa è finita won the Silver Bear - Special Jury Prize at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival.^[2] Typically taking on the protagonist male lead roles in his movies, he also introduces elements of intimate themes and political connotations.

He is 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 Palme d'Or at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.^[3]

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. Actors he has used in more major roles include Silvio Orlando, who appears in 5 films (including the role of protagonist in Il caimano) and Laura Morante, who featured in Sogni d'oro, Bianca 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 movie We Have a Pope (Habemus Papam, 2011)

Moretti is also an outspoken political leftist: in 2002 he organized street protests against the government of Silvio Berlusconi.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6]

He lives in Rome, having been resident since birth, where he is co-owner of a small movie theater, Nuovo Sacher. 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."^[7]

His brother is literary scholar Franco Moretti.

Films directed by Moretti[link]

• The Defeat (La sconfitta, 1973 short)
• Patè de bourgeois (1973 short)
• Friar How Do You Speak? (Come parli frate?, 1974 medium)
• I Am Self Sufficient (Io sono un autarchico, 1976)
• Ecce bombo (1978)
• Sweet Dreams (Sogni d'oro, 1981)
• Bianca (1984)
• The Mass Is Ended (La messa è finita, 1985)
• Red Lob (Palombella Rossa, 1989)
• The Thing (La cosa, 1990 medium)
• Caro diario (1993)
• 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)
• April (Aprile,1998)
• The Son's Room (La stanza del figlio, 2001)
• The Last Customer (2002 short)
• Anguished Cry Of Predator Bird (Il grido d'angoscia dell'uccello predatore, 2003 short)
• Il caimano (2006)
• The Last Championship (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)
• We Have a Pope (Habemus Papam, 2011)

Only Actor[link]

• Father and Master (Padre Padrone, 1977)
• Riso in bianco: Nanni Moretti atleta di se stesso (1984, TV)
• It's Happening Tomorrow (Domani accadrà, 1988)
• The Yes Man (Il portaborse, 1991)
• The Second Time (La seconda volta, 1995)
• Quiet Chaos (Caos calmo, 2008)

Awards[link]

• Cannes Film Festival
  • Prix de la mise en scène 1994: Caro diario
  • Palme d'Or 2001: The Son's Room
  • Prix de la FIPRESCI 2001: The Son's Room
  • Carrosse d'Or 2004
  • Rome's Award 2006: Il caimano
• Venice Film Festival
  • Silver Lion - Special Jury Prize 1981: Sogni d'oro (Sweet Dreams)
  • "Bastone Bianco" Filmcritic Award 1989: Palombella Rossa (Red Lob)
• Berlin International Film Festival
  • 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
  • Golden Plaque for Best Documentary Short Film 2003: The Last Customer
  • Silver Plaque for Best Screenplay 2008: Quiet Chaos
• European Film Awards
  • FIPRESCI Prize 1994: Caro diario
• São Paulo International Film Festival
  • Critics Award 1990: Palombella rossa (Red Lob)
• 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
  • 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
• Silver Ribbon
  • Best Story 1978: Ecce Bombo
  • Best Producer 1988: It's Happening Tomorrow
  • Best Story 1990: Palombella rossa (Red Lob)
  • 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
• Ciak d'oro Awards
  • Best Director 1986: The Mass Is Ended
  • Best Screenplay 1986: The Mass Is Ended
  • Best Director 1990: Palombella rossa (Red Lob)
  • 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
• UBU Awards
  • Best Italian Movie 1977/78: Ecce Bombo
• 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: Palombella rossa (Red Lob) (ax equo Do The Right Thing)
  • Best Film 1994: Caro diario
  • Best Film 2011: We Have a Pope

Further reading[link]

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

References[link]

External links[link]

• Interview with Nanni Moretti with his own thoughts on his films
• Nanni Moretti at the Internet Movie Database