Nanni Moretti - Life and Work

Life and Work

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. 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.

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. 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.

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."

His brother is literary scholar Franco Moretti.