Francesco Rosi
Encyclopedia
Francesco Rosi is an Italian
film director
. He is the father of actress Carolina Rosi.
on La Terra trema
(1948). His emergence as a director is considered to be his 1958 film La sfida
(The Challenge, 1958), based on the story of Camorra
boss Pasquale Simonetti, known as Pasquale 'e Nola, and Pupetta Maresca
. The realist nature of this film also caused a stir alluding to mafia control of the government.
Rosi was one of the central figures of the politicised post-neorealist 1960s and 70s of Italian cinema, along with Gillo Pontecorvo
, early Pasolini, the Taviani brothers, Ettore Scola and Valerio Zurlini. Dealing with a corrupt postwar Italy, Rosi's movies take on controversial issues, such as Salvatore Giuliano
, a film that won him won the Silver Bear for Best Director
at the 12th Berlin International Film Festival
in 1962. The years 1972 to 1976 cemented Rosi's reputation internationally as a director who dealt with controversial subjects such as the mysterious death of oil magnate Enrico Mattei
(The Mattei Affair
, 1972, which won the Palme d'Or
at Cannes Film Festival
); the political machinations around gangster Lucky Luciano
(Lucky Luciano, 1974), and corruption in the judiciary, Cadaveri Eccellenti
(Illustrious Corpses, 1976).
Rosi's films always appear to have political messages, especially his work in the 1960s and 1970s. As he matured as a director his topics for films became less politically oriented and more angled toward literature. Despite the more traditional slant of his later work, Rosi continued to direct until 1997. The 58th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival
in 2008 played tribute to Francesco Rosi by screening 13 films in its Homage section, the latter being reserved to filmmakers of outstanding quality and achievement. He received the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement on 14 February 2008, accompanied with the screening of Salvatore Giuliano.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is the father of actress Carolina Rosi.
Biography
After studying Law, but hoping to study film, Rosi entered the industry as an assistant to Luchino ViscontiLuchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
on La Terra trema
La terra trema
La terra trema is a 1948 Italian dramatic film directed by Luchino Visconti...
(1948). His emergence as a director is considered to be his 1958 film La sfida
La sfida
La sfida is a 1958 Italian film by Francesco Rosi. It stars José Suárez as a gang leader who challenges a local Camorra boss for supremacy...
(The Challenge, 1958), based on the story of Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
boss Pasquale Simonetti, known as Pasquale 'e Nola, and Pupetta Maresca
Pupetta Maresca
Assunta Maresca better known as known as Pupetta was a former beauty queen who became a well-known figure in the Camorra...
. The realist nature of this film also caused a stir alluding to mafia control of the government.
Rosi was one of the central figures of the politicised post-neorealist 1960s and 70s of Italian cinema, along with Gillo Pontecorvo
Gillo Pontecorvo
Gillo Pontecorvo was an Italian filmmaker. He worked as a film director for more than a decade before his best known film La battaglia di Algeri was released...
, early Pasolini, the Taviani brothers, Ettore Scola and Valerio Zurlini. Dealing with a corrupt postwar Italy, Rosi's movies take on controversial issues, such as Salvatore Giuliano
Salvatore Giuliano (film)
Salvatore Giuliano is a 1962 Italian film directed by Francesco Rosi. Shot in a neo-realist documentary, non-linear style, it follows the lives of those involved with the famous Sicilian bandit, Salvatore Giuliano...
, a film that won him won the Silver Bear for Best Director
Silver Bear for Best Director
The Silver Bear for Best Director is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for best achievement in direction.-Awards:-Repeated winners:*Mario Monicelli *Satyajit Ray *Carlos Saura -External links:*...
at the 12th Berlin International Film Festival
12th Berlin International Film Festival
The 12th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 22 to July 3, 1962.-Jury:* King Vidor * André Michel* Emeric Pressburger* Hideo Kikumori* Dolores del Río* Jurgen Schildt* Max Gammeter* Günther Stapenhorst* Bruno E...
in 1962. The years 1972 to 1976 cemented Rosi's reputation internationally as a director who dealt with controversial subjects such as the mysterious death of oil magnate Enrico Mattei
Enrico Mattei
Enrico Mattei was an Italian public administrator. After World War II he was given the task of dismantling the Italian Petroleum Agency Agip, a state enterprise established by the Fascist regime. Instead Mattei enlarged and reorganized it into the National Fuel Trust Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi...
(The Mattei Affair
The Mattei Affair
The Mattei Affair is a 1972 film directed by Francesco Rosi. It depicts the life and mysterious death of Enrico Mattei, an Italian businessman who in the aftermath of World War II managed to avoid the sale of the nascent Italian oil and hydrocarbon industry to US companies and developed them in...
, 1972, which won the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
); the political machinations around gangster Lucky Luciano
Lucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
(Lucky Luciano, 1974), and corruption in the judiciary, Cadaveri Eccellenti
Illustrious Corpses
Illustrious Corpses is a 1976 thriller film directed by Francesco Rosi and starring Lino Ventura. The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but was not entered into the main competition...
(Illustrious Corpses, 1976).
Rosi's films always appear to have political messages, especially his work in the 1960s and 1970s. As he matured as a director his topics for films became less politically oriented and more angled toward literature. Despite the more traditional slant of his later work, Rosi continued to direct until 1997. The 58th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in 2008 played tribute to Francesco Rosi by screening 13 films in its Homage section, the latter being reserved to filmmakers of outstanding quality and achievement. He received the Honorary Golden Bear for Lifetime Achievement on 14 February 2008, accompanied with the screening of Salvatore Giuliano.
Filmography
- Kean (1956)
- The Challenge or La sfidaLa sfidaLa sfida is a 1958 Italian film by Francesco Rosi. It stars José Suárez as a gang leader who challenges a local Camorra boss for supremacy...
(1958) - The Magliari (1959)
- Salvatore GiulianoSalvatore Giuliano (film)Salvatore Giuliano is a 1962 Italian film directed by Francesco Rosi. Shot in a neo-realist documentary, non-linear style, it follows the lives of those involved with the famous Sicilian bandit, Salvatore Giuliano...
(1962) - Hands Over the CityHands Over the CityHands Over the City is a 1963 drama film directed by Francesco Rosi. It is a story of political corruption in post-World War II Italy.- Plot summary :...
(1963) - The Moment of Truth (1965)
- More than a MiracleMore than a MiracleMore Than a Miracle is a 1967 film also titled Cinderella Italian Style and Happily Ever After. It stars Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif, Dolores del Río and has a surreal fairy tale narrative. Filmed in the countryside outside of Naples, this film had Francesco Rosi as its director, and Carlo Ponti,...
(1967) - Many Wars Ago (1970)
- The Mattei AffairThe Mattei AffairThe Mattei Affair is a 1972 film directed by Francesco Rosi. It depicts the life and mysterious death of Enrico Mattei, an Italian businessman who in the aftermath of World War II managed to avoid the sale of the nascent Italian oil and hydrocarbon industry to US companies and developed them in...
(1972) - Lucky LucianoLucky Luciano (film)Lucky Luciano is a 1973 film directed by Francesco Rosi. It stars Gian Maria Volonté and Vincent Gardenia.-Cast:*Gian Maria Volonté as Lucky Luciano*Vincent Gardenia as Colonel Charles Poletti*Silverio Blasi as Italian Captain...
(1974) - Cadaveri eccellenti (1976)
- Christ Stopped at EboliChrist Stopped at Eboli (film)Christ Stopped at Eboli is a 1979 film adaptation of the book of the same name by Carlo Levi. It was directed by Francesco Rosi and stars Gian Maria Volonté as Carlo Levi, with Paolo Bonacelli, Alain Cuny, Léa Massari, and Irene Papas....
(1979) - Three BrothersThree Brothers (film)Three Brothers is a 1981 Italian film based on a work by Andrei Platonov. It was directed by Francesco Rosi and stars Philippe Noiret, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Michele Placido and Charles Vanel....
(1981) - Carmen (1984)
- Chronicle of a Death ForetoldChronicle of a Death Foretold (film)Chronicle of a Death Foretold is a drama film directed by Francesco Rosi adapted by Tonino Guerra from the eponymous novel by Gabriel García Márquez. It stars Rupert Everett, Ornella Muti, Anthony Delon and Gian Maria Volonté. The film premiered at Cannes film festival in May 1987.-Plot :Cristóbal...
(1987) - 12 registi per 12 città (1989, a collaboration work with 11 other directors)
- Dimenticare PalermoDimenticare PalermoDimenticare Palermo is a 1989 Italian political thriller starring James Belushi, Mimi Rogers and Joss Ackland and directed by Francesco Rosi and co-written by Gore Vidal. The film was released under the title The Palermo Connection in North America...
(1989) - Neapolitan Diary (1992)
- The TruceThe Truce (1997 film)The Truce is a 1997 film directed by Francesco Rosi, written by Tonino Guerra, based on Primo Levi's autobiography, The Truce. The film deals with Primo Levi's experiences returning from the concentration camp at Auschwitz during the Second World War....
(1997)
External links
- Q&A with Rosi from The Hollywood Reporter
- Biography of Francesco Rosi from Senses of Cinema
- Literature on Francesco Rosi