Bernardo Bertolucci

Biography

Bernardo Bertolucci was an acclaimed Italian film director and screenwriter, widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of modern European cinema. Known for his visually ambitious films and exploration of politics, sexuality, identity, and human relationships, he achieved international recognition with works such as The Conformist, Last Tango in Paris, 1900, The Last Emperor, and The Sheltering Sky.

Early Life

Bernardo Bertolucci was born on March 16, 1941, in Parma, Italy. He was the son of poet and film critic Attilio Bertolucci. Growing up in an artistic environment, he developed an early interest in literature and cinema.

Bertolucci initially studied at the University of Rome, but he left before completing his degree to pursue filmmaking. As a young man, he was influenced by the work of Italian neorealist filmmakers and began working in cinema during the early 1960s.

Early Career

Bertolucci began his filmmaking career as an assistant to director Pier Paolo Pasolini on Accattone (1961). He made his directorial debut with La commare secca (The Grim Reaper) in 1962.

His early films established his interest in political themes, psychological conflict, and unconventional storytelling. He gained wider recognition with Before the Revolution (1964), a film about a young man's political and personal conflicts.

Rise to International Fame

Bertolucci achieved major international acclaim with The Conformist (1970). Set during Fascist Italy, the film followed a man who attempts to conform to the political and social expectations of his time. Its sophisticated cinematography and visual style became highly influential.

His next major success was Last Tango in Paris (1972), starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. The controversial drama explored grief, sexuality, loneliness, and emotional alienation. It became internationally famous and established Bertolucci as a provocative and ambitious filmmaker.

1900

Bertolucci's epic 1900 (Novecento) was released in 1976. Starring Robert De Niro and Gérard Depardieu, the film portrayed several decades of Italian history through the lives of two men from different social backgrounds.

The film demonstrated Bertolucci's interest in combining intimate personal stories with large-scale political and historical events.

The Last Emperor

One of Bertolucci's greatest achievements was The Last Emperor (1987), an epic biographical drama about Puyi, the final emperor of China.

The film received enormous critical acclaim and won nine Academy Awards, including:

• Best Picture
• Best Director for Bertolucci
• Best Adapted Screenplay
• Best Cinematography
• Best Costume Design
• Best Film Editing
• Best Original Score
• Best Art Direction
• Best Sound

Bertolucci became the first Italian director to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

Later Career

Following The Last Emperor, Bertolucci continued making internationally recognized films. His notable later works included The Sheltering Sky (1990), Little Buddha (1993), Stealing Beauty (1996), and The Dreamers (2003).

The Dreamers, set during the political and cultural upheaval of Paris in 1968, returned to themes that had appeared throughout his career, including youth, sexuality, politics, cinema, and personal freedom.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Bertolucci received numerous international honors. In addition to his Academy Award for The Last Emperor, he received awards and nominations from major film festivals and organizations around the world.

He received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for The Dreamers? More precisely, Bertolucci received an Honorary Palme d'Or in 2011 for his overall contribution to cinema.

Personal Life

Bertolucci was married to British screenwriter and director Clare Peploe. The couple collaborated professionally on several projects.

For many years, Bertolucci used a wheelchair after suffering a serious back injury, but he continued to remain involved in filmmaking and international cinema.

Death

Bernardo Bertolucci died on November 26, 2018, in Rome, Italy, at the age of 77, following complications related to cancer.