Marco Risi: Movies & Box Office

Marco Risi, born on 4 June 1951 in Milan, Italy, is a pivotal figure in contemporary Italian cinema, renowned for his uncompromising approach to storytelling. As the son of celebrated director Dino Risi and nephew of documentary filmmaker Nelo Risi, he was immersed in a cinematic environment from an early age, which shaped his artistic sensibilities. After completing his secondary education at the Liceo Scientifico, Risi briefly pursued philosophy before abandoning his studies to dive into the film industry, initially serving as an assistant on A Season in Hell (1971) and later collaborating with prominent directors such as Duccio Tessari, Steno, and Alberto Sordi. This apprenticeship honed his craft and laid the foundation for his debut as a director with the RAI documentary Appunti su Hollywood in 1977. Over the subsequent decade, Risi transitioned from successful comedies to socially charged dramas, tackling themes like military trauma in Soldati – 365 all’alba, juvenile delinquency in Forever Mary and Boys on the Outside, and the tragedy of Itavia Flight 870 in The Invisible Wall. His willingness to confront uncomfortable realities earned him the Special Grand Prize of the Jury at the Montreal World Film Festival for Forever Mary (1989) and the David di Donatello Award for Best Director for Boys on the Outside (1990), as well as a Silver Osella for Best Cinematography in Venice. In addition to directing, Risi co‑founded the production company Sorpasso Film in 1991 and secured the Nastro d'Argento for Best Producer for Ferzan Özpetek's Hamam (1998). His later works, including Il branco (1994), Fort Apache Napoli (2009), and Cha cha cha (2013), continue to reflect his commitment to exposing societal issues through a cinematic lens, solidifying his legacy as a daring and influential auteur in Italian film.