Taviani Brothers

Paolo and Vittorio Taviani (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaːolo, vitˈtɔːrjo taˈvjaːni]; born 8 November 1931 and 20 September 1929 respectively) are noted Italian film directors and screenwriters. They are brothers, who have always worked together, each directing alternate scenes.

Paolo Taviani's wife Lina Nerli Taviani has been costume designer of many of their films.

At the Cannes Film Festival the Taviani brothers won the Palme d'Or and the FIPRESCI prize for Padre padrone in 1977 and Grand Prix du Jury for La notte di San Lorenzo (The Night of the Shooting Stars, 1982). In 2012 they reached again the top prize in a major festival, winning the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival with Caesar Must Die.

Both born in San Miniato, Tuscany, Italy, the Taviani brothers began their careers as journalists. In 1960 they came to the world of cinema, directing with Joris Ivens the documentary L'Italia non è un paese povero (Italy is not a poor country). They went on to direct two films with Valentino Orsini Un uomo da bruciare (1962) and I fuorilegge del matrimonio (1963).

Their first autonomous film was I sovversivi (The Subversives, 1967), with which they anticipated the events of 1968. With actor Gian Maria Volontè they gained attention with Sotto il segno dello scorpione (Under the Sign of Scorpio, (1969) where one can see the echoes of Brecht, Pasolini and Godard.

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