Bernardo Bertolucci
Who was Bernardo Bertolucci?
Italian director who created acclaimed films like The Last Emperor and Last Tango in Paris, winning nine Academy Awards throughout his career.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Bernardo Bertolucci (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Bernardo Bertolucci was an Italian film director and screenwriter whose career lasted five decades, establishing him as one of cinema's most influential creators. Born in Parma on March 16, 1941, he developed an early love for literature and film and later studied at Sapienza University of Rome. His father, Attilio Bertolucci, was a respected poet and film critic, giving Bernardo early exposure to artistic and intellectual circles that shaped his artistic sensibilities.
Bertolucci started his career under the mentorship of Pier Paolo Pasolini, working as assistant director on Accattone (1961) before directing his first film at age 22, The Grim Reaper (1962). He gained international critical acclaim with Before the Revolution (1964), which established him as a significant new voice in European cinema. The film’s complex themes of politics and personal issues became trademarks of his future work.
During the 1970s, Bertolucci gained worldwide recognition for a series of provocative and visually stunning films. The Conformist (1970) received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, boosting his reputation as a stylistic master, while Last Tango in Paris (1972) sparked international controversy with its explicit content and unconventional storytelling. His epic historical film 1900 (1976) showcased his skill in addressing large-scale political themes within personal stories.
Bertolucci achieved commercial and critical success with The Last Emperor (1987), a biographical drama about China's last emperor, Puyi. The film won nine Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, making Bertolucci the first Italian director to win this award. This success began what is called his "Oriental Trilogy," which also includes The Sheltering Sky (1990) and Little Buddha (1993), and involved collaborations with composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.
In his later career, Bertolucci continued exploring themes of identity, politics, and human sexuality in films like Stealing Beauty (1996) and The Dreamers (2003). His work consistently featured lush cinematography, complex character development, and an honest look at power dynamics in personal relationships. He died in Rome on November 26, 2018, leaving behind a body of work that had a profound impact on international cinema and inspired many filmmakers worldwide.
Before Fame
Growing up in an intellectual household in Parma, Bertolucci was surrounded by literature and arts from an early age, thanks to his father Attilio, a well-known poet and critic. He started studying literature at Sapienza University of Rome but dropped out after winning a national poetry prize, which led him to filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini.
Pasolini became Bertolucci's mentor and hired him as assistant director on his debut film Accattone in 1961. This role gave Bertolucci essential practical training in filmmaking and introduced him to Pasolini's daring artistic vision. Within a year, Bertolucci secured funding for his own directorial debut, beginning one of cinema's most celebrated careers at just 22 years old.
Key Achievements
- First Italian filmmaker to win Academy Award for Best Director with The Last Emperor (1987)
- The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, sweeping every category for which it was nominated
- Created internationally acclaimed masterpieces including The Conformist and Last Tango in Paris
- Received Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at Venice Film Festival and Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes
- Directed Before the Revolution at age 23, which became recognized as a masterpiece of Italian cinema
Did You Know?
- 01.He won a national poetry prize at age 21, which led to his meeting with Pier Paolo Pasolini and entry into filmmaking
- 02.Last Tango in Paris was banned in several countries and led to a suspended prison sentence for Bertolucci in Italy on obscenity charges
- 03.The Last Emperor was the first Western film granted permission to shoot in Beijing's Forbidden City
- 04.He was confined to a wheelchair for the last portion of his career due to a back injury but continued directing
- 05.His father Attilio Bertolucci was a renowned poet who influenced major Italian writers including Pier Paolo Pasolini
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Award for Best Director | 1988 | — |
| Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay | 1988 | — |
| Sutherland Trophy | 1970 | — |
| National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director | 1971 | — |
| Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay | 1987 | — |
| Golden Globe Award for Best Director | 1987 | — |
| Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film | 1987 | — |
| David di Donatello for Best Director | 1988 | — |
| David di Donatello for Best Film | 1988 | — |
| César Award for Best Foreign Film | 1988 | — |
| BAFTA Award for Best Film | 1989 | — |
| Leopard of Honour | 1997 | — |
| Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts | 2001 | — |
| Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | 1988 | — |
| European Film Academy Special Jury Award | 1988 | — |
| European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award | 2012 | — |
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | 2008 | — |
| honorary doctorate from the University of Parma | 2014 | — |
| Gold Medal of the Italian Order of Merit for Culture and Art | — | — |