Marco Ferreri
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
". . . society is finished. The values that once existed no longer exist. The family, the bourgeoisie--I'm talking about values, morals, economic relationships--they no longer serve a purpose. My films are reactions translated into images. The Roman Empire is over. We are entering the new Middle Ages. What interests me are moments when the world is dissolving and exploding." --Marco Ferreri ("The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers" 1984)
Biography
Former production manager on Italian films of the early 1950s who began his directing career in Spain. Ferreri's films are characterized by an absurd, misanthropic sense of humor as exemplified in his award-winning "The Wheelchair" (1959), in which a grandfather torments his family until they buy him an electric wheelchair for which he has no need. His exposes of contemporary middle-class mores, and especially sexual relations, continued through the 1960s and 70s with films such as "Queen Bee" (1963), "Dillinger Is Dead" (1968)--considered his masterpiece by most critics--and the notorious "La Grande Bouffe" (1973), in which a group of bored individuals literally eat themselves to death. Ferreri gave a memorable performance as the deaf, murderous art collector in Mario Monicelli's "Casanova '70" (1965).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Art Director (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Life Events
1950
Began newsreel film magazine DOCUMENTO MENSILE
1954
Temporarily abandoned cinema and sold optical instruments in Spain
1954
Met Castilian writer, Rafael Fernandez Azcona with whom he collaborated on adaptation of Azcona short story which resulted in first feature film, "El Pisito" (1958)
1969
Acted in "F.B.I. Frank Bertolazzi investigatore", a six-episode Italian TV serial directed by Ugo Tognazzi
1973
Garnerned international attention with "La Grande Bouffe"; opened the Cannes Film Festival and caused controversy
1996
Final film, "Nitrate Base/Silver Nitrate"
Videos
Movie Clip
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
". . . society is finished. The values that once existed no longer exist. The family, the bourgeoisie--I'm talking about values, morals, economic relationships--they no longer serve a purpose. My films are reactions translated into images. The Roman Empire is over. We are entering the new Middle Ages. What interests me are moments when the world is dissolving and exploding." --Marco Ferreri ("The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers" 1984)
