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Carlo Verdone
| Biography |
Son of critic and teacher of cinema history Mario Verdone, Carlo Verdone obtained a diploma in film directing from the Experimental Cinematography Centre and graduated in the Arts. After serving his time in cabaret, he notched up considerable success in the TV programme “Non Stop “(1979). The following year he made his directing debut with “Fun is Beautiful”, in which he had the chance to show off his talent by creating a number of very amusing characters. In “Bianco, rosso e Verdone” (1981) he again proved his mastery, dedicating greater thought to the psychological depth of his characters. “Borotalco” (1982) saw him shift to more traditional shores of sophisticated comedy, outshining the film that was to follow “Soap and Water” (1983). After twinning up with Sordi - who was also director - in “Journey with Papa” (1982), he directed the less than brilliant “I due carabinieri” (1984) and “Great!” (1986), which teeters worryingly on the brink of affectation. Aware of the risks of working merely with short comedy sketches, Verdone chose a more mature means of storytelling in “Me and My Sister” (1987), in which laughs are punctuated by a melancholy note which he often - and this is a pity - tries to stifle. Amid social analysis and criticism of society, “Compagni di scuola” (1988) remains to date his most convincing film, forming a harmonious ensemble with a tight script that spares no-one its searing scrutiny and malice. Later, amongst numerous dubious or repetitive offerings (“Il bambino e il poliziotto”, 1989; “Tonight at Alice's”, 1990; “Wolf! Wolf!”, 1992; “Viaggi di nozze”, 1995; “I'm Crazy About Iris Blond”, 1996; “A Chinese in a Coma”, 2000), came a few brilliant exceptions “Damned the Day I Met You” (1992), an almost quintessential portrayal of a love story between two neurotics; “Let's Not Keep in Touch” (1994), which quite successfully mocks the tearjerker TV trend; “Gallo cedrone” (1998), which puts a modern slant on the sharp sarcasm of Sordi, through portrayals of the worst vices of the Italians. |
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