Ermanno Olmi

Ermanno Olmi – Italian Film Director, born in Bergamo, Lombardy, 1931.

Olmi’s films fit into the artistic mould of Italian neo-realism, though Olmi would argue (and does argue, in an interview found on the Criterion Edition DVD of his 1961 film, Il Posto) that this is the artistic tradition he is responding against because, he claimed, he used non-actors in authentic locations whereas neo-realism used professional actors.

However, many neo-realist directors also used non-professional actors for secondary and sometimes even primary roles. His films, like most of those considered to be products of the neo-realist movement, are shot in long, slow takes, and generally contain some sort of social commentary, though rarely do the neo-realists wear their political opinions on their sleeves.

Perhaps his most important film is The Tree of Wooden Clogs (L'Albero degli Zoccoli), which was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival. In 1983 his film Walking, Walking was screened out of competition at Cannes. In 1988, his The Legend of the Holy Drinker, (La leggenda del santo bevitore), based on the novel by Joseph Roth and starring Rutger Hauer, won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival as well as a David di Donatello award.

His The Profession of Arms also a won David di Donatello award.