Bernardo Bertolucci, director of cult films such as Last Tango in Paris (1972) and The Conformist (1970) and recipient of the prestigious Academy Award for The Last Emperor of China (1987), has died at the age of 77 after a long illness. In a career that dates back to the beginning of the 1960s, he became a key figure of the Italian New Wave (alongside Antonioni, Fellini and Pasolini), and he also achieved success in Hollywood with the film The Last Emperor of China. The film won as many as 9 Oscars, including the Oscar for Best Film and the Oscar for Best Director. We have prepared for you a list of the best films of this unfortunately deceased film legend. Here are the best Bernardo Bertolucci movies.
Bernardo Bertolucci was born in 1941 in Parma. The son of a poet and a teacher, he was raised in a literary and artistic atmosphere, and his father Attilio was friends with Piero Paolo Pasolini, then still writers and poets. Pasolini is so for his film debut The Beggar (Accattone, 1961) hired 20-year-old Bertolucci as an assistant. This turned out to be Bernardo's breakthrough: Pasolini helped him further and recommended him as a screenwriter for The Godfather's Death (La Commare Secca, 1962), which ended up being Bertolucci's directorial debut. He continued to contribute his writing skills and ideas, including for Sergio Leon's epic western Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). His directorial career began to take off with two films Before the revolution (Prima della rivoluzione, 1964) and The Conformist (Il conformista, 1970), which made it clear that Bertolucci was committed to radical left-wing politics. He later remarked: "I was living in a dream about communism."
In his career, he made several successful films, but he undoubtedly attracted the most attention with an erotic film Last Tango in Paris (Ultimo tango a Parigi, 1972), in which they starred then 48-year-old Marlon Brando and 19-year-old Maria Schenider. The film was due for a while graphic erotica and scenes with anal rape banned in Italy. In 2016, a 3-year-old video surfaced in which Bertolucci allegedly admitted that he and Brandon of actress Maria Schneider they did not fully inform about the infamous 'butter' scene, as the director reportedly wanted her reaction to be "the reaction of a girl and not the reaction of an actress".
Bernardo Bertolucci has been confined to a wheelchair for more than the last 10 years. In 1978, he married a filmmaker Clare Peploe and remained with her until his death. They had no children.
The best movies of Bernardo Bertolucci
Last Tango in Paris (Ultimo tango a Parigi, 1972)
A young Parisian woman meets a middle-aged American businessman, who demands from her that an urgent secret relationship is based only on sex.
The Last Emperor of China (1987)
An epic British-Italian biographical drama about the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China.
The Conformist (Il conformista, 1970)
A spineless Italian becomes a fascist and goes abroad to plot the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident.
The Dreamers (2003)
In 1968, during the student uprisings, a young American student studies in Paris and gets involved in a relationship with a brother and sister.
Stealing Beauty (1996)
After her mother commits suicide, a young woman travels to Italy to find love, truth and a deeper connection with herself.
1900 (Novecento, 1976)
An epic tale of the class battle in 20th century Italy through the eyes of two childhood friends who are now on their own side.
The Besieged (L'assedio, 1998)
While in exile in Italy, an African woman tries to find her way back home and free her husband. But the only one who can help her is in love with her.
Tea in the Sahara (The Sheltering Sky, 1990)
An American couple travels abroad to rekindle their relationship. But as the journey continues, their attempt to rekindle what they once had becomes less and less meaningful.
Little Buddha (1993)
After the death of Lama Dorja, Tibetan monks find three boys, two Nepalese and an American, who could be the reincarnation of their great teacher.
