Carlo Verdone

Carlo Verdone - Biography & Filmography

Carlo Verdone was born in Rome on November 17, 1950. His father, Mario Verdone, was a professor of cinema and a drama critic who passed along his love for theater to his child. With his younger brother, Luca, Carlo would create Saturday night entertainments for family and friends based on celebrated Italian directors like Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica.

Carlo got his professional start on stage; but, he would soon make his mark on television with work in the 1979 series, Non-Stop! In 1980, he made his feature film directorial debut with Un Sacco Bello (Fun is Beautiful). The film had three separate segments, each of which contained a comical character, also portrayed by Verdone. It was a breakthrough in his career.

In 1981, Verdone followed up Un Sacco Bello with Bianco, Rosso e Verdone (White, Red and Green). He played Pasquale, Furio and Mimmo, three crazy characters who are all heading back to their hometown on election day. 1982's Borotalco is a sophisticated romantic comedy. Carlo played Sergio, a door to door salesman for a recording company featuring music by Lucio Dalla. He was also involved with his attractive co-worker, Nadia (Eleanora Giorgi). He tries to impress her by pretending to be wealthy. This lie leads to many more and some funny twists and turns along the way. Many consider this film to be one of Verdone's best.

Over the next few years, he also worked on the following films:

• Acqua e Sapone (Soap and Water) 1983
• Cuori Nella Tormenta (Hearts in Torment) 1983
• Troppo Forte (Troppo the Great - co-written by Sergio Leone) 1986
• Io e mia sorella (Me and My Sister) 1987

In 1988 he directed, co-wrote and starred in Compagni di Scuola (School Friends). Carlo was Piero "Il Patata" Ruffolo, a man who had a difficult relationship with his wife and was working on building one with his student, Cristina (Natasha Hovey). This school teacher was but one of 35 classmates who meet for a reunion to find that life has changed quite a lot and will continue to change even over the course of the reunion itself.

In 1994 Verdone played Gepy Fuxas, the host of a reality show. He falls in love with a paraplegic named Arianna. She is angry that he exploits innocent people on his TV show. Her tirade causing him to lose his job; but, it begins their love affair. Arianna is played by none other than Asia Argento in this film, entitled Perdiamoci Di Vista (Let's Not Keep In Touch!).

During this period some critics mention that Verdone himself had begun to go through a mid-life crisis. Sort of like the characters he had begun portraying. In '98, he starred in Gallo Cerdone. Armando Feroci is condemned to die in an Arab prison. During the film, we get flashbacks into his faults, failings and screw-ups from the perspective of those who knew him best such as his ex-wife, his daughter and his brother.

In 2000 Carlo produced his first film called Zora la vampire. The film puts a modern and comical spin on the Count Dracula story. The old count comes into the 21st century and falls in love with a graffiti artist named Zora. He finds himself in the middle of the hip-hop culture trying to maintain his traditions and win the heart and soul of the lovely young girl.

In recent years, however, Verdone's most well-received work may possibly be 2002's Mal Che Colpa Abbiamo Noi (It's not our fault!). This ensemble-piece focuses on the trials and tribulations of seven people from very different walks of life who try to keep their therapy group - and lives - together after the death of their therapist. This film is comedy and satire. It talks of life at different stages. It deals with relationships and neuroses. It is a sum of many of Verdone's films because it deals with the same themes, issues and problems in a loving and comical way.

Verdone, who has often been compared to the much-loved prolific comedy actor, Alberto Sordi, is in a class by himself. He's a director, actor, writer and producer who's talent is immeasurable. His social commentary doesn't hit over the head; rather, it gently knocks on your brain, reminding you to take a closer look at yourself, perhaps even to laugh at yourself. Carlo Verdone, much like his father Mario, is not just a student of cinema, but a teacher of cinema. The world is his classroom.

By Deanna Goodson