Unique and inimitable, Roberto Benigni perform today 69 years. The multifaceted Tuscan artist, who recently received Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to the 78th Venice International Film Festival he is certainly among the most popular actors and directors in Italy and in the world. His career is full of films that have made the history of Italian cinema, from "Johnny Toothpick" to "Life is Beautiful". Roberto Benigni's genius lies in knowing how to masterfully interpret any type of role, from comic to dramatic. To celebrate the 69esimo birthday of the Tuscan actor-director, we have selected some of the most memorable scenes from his films. Happy birthday Roberto!
Iconic scenes from Benigni's films: comic interpretations
Letter to Savonarola (We just have to cry - Benigni and Troisi, 1984)
Unforgettable scene from the couple's movie Benigni-Troisi, in addition to that of the customs” (“Who are you? what are you bringing? How many are you? A florin!"). Saverio e Mario write a letter to Jerome Savonarola to try to free Veal, after he had been arrested the previous evening. For its realization, the two were inspired by the iconic letter scene from the film "Totò Peppino and the ... malfemmina". As in the version of Totò and Peppino, Troisi and Benigni also have improvised the whole scene, making it downright hilarious.
Johnny Stecchino at the Massimo theater in Palermo (Johnny Stecchino - Benigni, 1991)
In this film Benigni plays Dante Alighieri, a bus driver from Cesena identical in appearance to a repentant of the mafia (Johnny Toothpick). The scene takes place at Massimo theater di Palermo. Maria (Nicoletta Braschi) takes Dante to the theater for everyone to recognize. Before the start of the Dante show steal a banana and, when people in the theater start insulting him (believing him to be Johnny Stecchino) he thinks they are talking about the banana theft. For this reason he throws money on the public and takes it out on those who leave the theater for not staying in their presence. The film plays on the figure of the double and it is a clear one criticizes against the mafia and the company often condescending and corrupt.
Police misunderstandings about Loris (Il Mostro - Benigni, 1994)
If "Johnny Stecchino" played doubles, "Il mostro"Instead play onmistake. Here the protagonist is Loris, an unemployed forty year old who comes mistaken for a serial killer. In this scene, the police analyze a "typical day of the monster", misunderstanding Loris's misadventures with indecent acts. After watching the video, many policewomen refuse to be the guinea pig for "the monster", leaving the room in disgust. The assignment will then be given to the only agent left, the young policewoman Jessica (Nicoletta Braschi).
The dramatic parts
The rules of the camp (Life is beautiful - Benigni, 1997)
Absolute masterpiece by Roberto Benigni, winner of the Oscar Prize for Best Foreign Film, Best Actor and Best Score in 1998. Among the memorable scenes of "Life is Beautiful”There is certainly one in which Guido proposes to act as translator of the German hierarch who explains the rules of the lager to the deportees, as if it were a game, with a real tank as the final prize. This for hide to the son Joshua la harsh reality of what was happening and keep it safe. This is a very touching passage in the film. Joshua will believe the father's version, even the last one when i American soldiers they will come to free the prisoners with theirs tanks. On that occasion, after hugging her mother again, she will cry happily "We won".
Creation of Pinocchio (Pinocchio - Garrone, 2019)
Roberto Benigni is an excellent actor and knows how to extricate himself in different roles, even if not purely comic. In "Pinocchio"of Matthew Garrone, interprets Geppetto, the father of the most famous puppet in the world. Benigni is not new to the subject. Already in 2002 he had directed a movie about Pinocchio, playing the same protagonist. Despite loyalty to the Collodi's novel, his film was not very popular with the public and critics. In Garrone's film, on the other hand, we see a more convincing Benigni in the role of the carpenter. For this role (in 2020) he has in fact the Silver ribbon and Golden Ciack for Best Supporting Actor.
Cover photo: © Marina Lovari - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
