Peter Cattaneo
About
Biography
Biography
British director Peter Cattaneo first captured critical attention for his whimsical short "Dear Rosie" (1990). Optioned for future rights by Sigourney Weaver, "Dear Rosie" earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Live Action Short. After directing the BBC film "Loved Up" (1996), which created a sensation when shown at that year's Sundance Festival, Cattaneo made an auspicious feature debut with "The Full Monty" (1997), an endearingly offbeat look at how far some unemployed steel workers will go to make money--up to and including dancing naked for women. Cattaneo worked hard to get actors "with that working-class sensibility" who would also agree to doff their duds, and once rising Scottish actor Robert Carlyle committed to the project, the rest of the ensemble came on board and interacted famously, supporting each other in the stressful act of stripping. Though it's the stripping that sold the movie, deeper themes (i.e., being out of work is emasculating) propelled the film beyond cheap burlesque to more meaningful territory.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Life Events
1989
Directed first short, the 20-minute film "Spotters"; also shared screenwriting credit; shown at Cannes Film Festival
1990
Received critical attention for his whimsical short "Dear Rosie"; earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject
1996
Directed the BBC film "Loved Up"; shown at the Sundance Festival
1997
Feature debut, the hit British film "The Full Monty"; earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Director
2001
Directed the comedy "Lucky Break"; shown at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival
2005
Helmed the feel good family tale "Opal Dream"
2008
Directed the story of a failed drummer (Rainn Wilson) who is given a second chance at fame in "The Rocker"
