Born in Parma and originally inspired to work as a poet, Bertolucci was introduced to the filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini and in 1961 abandoned his studies at Rome University to become Pasolinis assistant on ACCATTONE. The following year he wrote the screenplay for his own first film THE GRIM REAPER (LA COMARE SECCA), which was acclaimed at the Venice Film Festival and which was followed in 1964 by BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
In 1968 Bertolucci was asked by Sergio Leone to write the storyline for ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. In 1969 he directed THE SPIDERS STRATAGEM, and then THE CONFORMIST - an adaptation of the Alberto Moravia novel. In 1973 he encountered enormous international critical and commercial success with the release of the controversial LAST TANGO IN PARIS, starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider, which was for a time banned in his native Italy. In 1976 he directed the modern epic 1900, exploring the battle between the left and the Fascist movement over two generations, which starred Robert De Niro and Gerard Derpardieu. This was followed by LA LUNA and TRAGEDY OF A RIDICULOUS MAN.
In 1985, after four years of laborious preparation, Bertolucci embarked on his most ambitious project, directing THE LAST EMPEROR - the true story of Pu Yi, Chinas last emperor - on location in Beijings Forbidden City. The film went on to become a worldwide hit, and won nine Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Film. In 1990 Bertolucci went on to adapt Paul Bowles celebrated bohemian novel THE SHELTERING SKY, which was filmed in the Sahara Desert starring Debra Winger and John Malkovich. In 1992 Bertolucci returned to the East to film LITTLE BUDDHA, on location in Nepal and in the monasteries of the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Three years later, he was once again in Italy to shoot STEALING BEAUTY, starring Jeremy Irons, Liv Tyler, Donal McCann and Sinead Cusack.
Bertolucci described his 1998 film BESIEGED as a piece of chamber music for the cinema. Starring Thandie Newton and David Thewlis, BESIEGED was filmed on location in Rome and Kenya.
Bernardo Bertolucci - Essential Filmography:
2000 HISTOIRE DEAUX
1998 - BESIEGED
1995 - STEALING BEAUTY
1993 - LITTLE BUDDHA
1990 - THE SHELTERING SKY
1986 - THE LAST EMPEROR
1981 - TRAGEDY OF A RIDICULOUS MAN
1979 - LA LUNA
1976 - 1900
1972 - LAST TANGO IN PARIS
1970 - THE CONFORMIST
1970 - THE SPIDERS STRATAGEM
1968 - PARTNER
1967 - AMORE E RABBIA (episody: Agonia)
1966 - IL CANALE (short film)
1965 - LA VIA DEL PETROLIO (TV documentary)
1964 - BEFORE THE REVOLUTION
1962 - THE GRIM REAPER - LA COMARE SECCA
1956 - MORTE DI UN MAIALE (16mm)
1955 - LA TELEFERICA (16mm)
Screenplays:
2000 - THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE by Clare Peploe
1971 - LINCHIESTA by Gianni Amico
1968 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST by Sergio Leone
1966 - BALLATA DA UN MILIARDO by Gianni Puccini