As a teenager, the Italian director wrote his first poems based on literary realism. With his first cinema films from 1962, Bernardo Bertolucci addressed the generational conflict in Italian post-war society. After “The Great Error” (1969/70), the director made his breakthrough in international cinema with “Le dernier Tango à Paris” (1972), where he made his mark with masterfully staged monumental works such as “1900” (1974/75), ” The Last Emperor” (1986), “Little Buddha” (1992/93) and “I and You” (2012) established…
Bernardo Bertolucci was born on March 16, 1940 in Parma (Italy).
As a teenager, he turned to literature and poetry, leaning towards realism. Bertolucci became friends at a young age with the literary realists Alberto Moravia and Pier Paolo Pasolini. After a few short films, Bertolucci made his debut in 1962 with the feature film “La commare secca”, on whose screenplay Pasolini had contributed. In the years that followed, he expressed the conflict between young people and Italian post-war society with films such as “Prima della rivoluzione” (1963) and “Amore e rabbia” (1967). Bertolucci experienced his first international success with the film “Il conformista” (1969/70; The Great Mistake), which dealt with the past of Italian fascism.
The Italian director then celebrated his international breakthrough in 1972 with “Le dernier Tango à Paris”, which caused a sensation because of its then unusually revealing erotic scenes. In 1974/75, Bertolucci presented his masterpiece “Novecento” (“1900”), which, as a historical epic lasting more than five hours, illustrated the great themes of a century of personal destiny: love, friendship, solidarity and betrayal. In 1986, the director delivered another monumental work, “The Last Emperor”, which impressively staged the life of the last emperor of China, Pu Yi, and marked the first high point in Bertolucci’s career. The director, screenwriter Mark Peploe and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro each received an Oscar for global success.
This was followed by the desert epic “The Shletering Sky” (1989) and “Little Buddha” (1992/93), another monumental work, which, despite its breathtaking photography, triggered criticism for its content. In the 1990s, Bertolucci continued to direct Stealing Beauty (1995) and L’assedio (1997). In 1998 he presented “Besieged” (“Shandurai and the Piano Player”), which was filmed in Rome and Kenya. In 2000 he contributed the short film “The Cello” to the episodic drama “Ten Minutes Older”. At the beginning of 2004, “The Dreamers” (“The Dreamers”) came to the cinemas, which, due to its erotic scenes masterfully staged in Paris, was reminiscent of the scandalous film “The Last Tango in Paris”. “Me and You” (2012) was his last feature film direction. In 2013 he received the Nastro d’Argento (together with the film crew).
Bernardo Bertolucci died in Rome on November 26, 2018.
Filmography
2004:
The Dreamers
2000:
Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (Kurz)
1998
Besieged
1997:
The siege;
Bologna (Doku)
1995:
Stealing Beauty
1992/93:
Little Buddha
1989:
The Sheltering Sky
1986:
The Last Emperor
1980:
Tragedy of a ridiculous man
1978:
The moon
1974/75:
Twentieth century
1972:
Le dernier Tango à Paris
1971:
Health is sick (Doku)
1969/70:
The conformist
1969:
The spider strategy
1968:
Partner
1967:
Love and anger
1965:
The way of oil;
The canal (Kurz)
1963:
Before the revolution
1962:
The dry commare
1956:
The cable car (Kurz)
1955:
Death of a Pig (Kurz)
What is Bernardo Bertolucci known for?
Bernardo Bertolucci, (born March 16, 1940, Parma, Italy—died November 26, 2018, Rome), Italian film director who was perhaps best known for his film Last Tango in Paris (1972), the erotic content of which created an international sensation. Bertolucci was raised in an atmosphere of comfort and intellectualism.
Why did Bernardo Bertolucci lose his civil rights?
After the release of Last Tango in Paris in Europe, Bertolucci was indicted by a court in Bologna for making a pornographic film. Although he was acquitted, he lost his civil rights (including his right to vote) for five years and the Italian courts ordered that all copies of the film should be destroyed.
Did Bernardo Bertolucci have children?
He had been married since 1978 to filmmaker Clare Peploe. They had no children. Bertolucci directed such films as Last Tango in Paris, Before the Revolution, The Conformist, and The Last Emperor (the last of which earned nine Academy Awards, including best picture and best director).
Is Bertolucci alive?
Date of death: November 26, 2018
Place of death: Rome, Italy
