The Golden Lion at the 1962 Venice Film Festival was awarded to Valerio Zurlini for his film Family Diary. A figure in Italian cinema, Zurlini developed a career as a director, screenwriter, and film editor whose work drew significant inspiration from the visual techniques found in the paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, Giorgio Morandi, and Ottone Rosai.
Early Career and Training
Born in Bologna in 1926, Zurlini studied law at Sapienza University of Rome. During his time as a student, he began exploring the theatre. Following the post-war period, he shifted his focus toward film, beginning his career by directing short documentaries before moving into feature production with 1954's The Girls of San Frediano, an adaptation based on the writing of Vasco Pratolini.
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Zurlini gained wider attention in 1958 when he shared the Nastro d'Argento for Best Script for Guendalina alongside Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, and Alberto Lattuada. His reputation as a director solidified with the 1959 feature Violent Summer, which featured Eleonora Rossi Drago and Jean Louis Trintignant. His 1961 film, Girl with a Suitcase, provided a notable role for Claudia Cardinale and helped establish Jacques Perrin, who would become a frequent collaborator in later years.
Major Works and Adaptations
Zurlini frequently turned to literature for his cinematic subjects. He later directed The Camp Followers in 1965, which earned a Special Silver Prize at the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. His final feature film, The Desert of the Tartars (1976), was an adaptation of the Dino Buzzati novel and received both the David di Donatello and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Director.
Final Years and Legacy
Toward the end of his life, Zurlini served as an instructor at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. In 1977, he participated as a jury member at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival. Zurlini passed away in Verona in 1982 and was buried at Campo Verano. His work saw a period of resurgence during the 2000s, marked by international retrospectives and the DVD release of his major films by NoShame Films.
Fast facts
- Born: 1926, Bologna
- Died: 1982, Verona
- Buried at: Campo Verano
- Education: Sapienza University of Rome
- 1962 Major Award: Golden Lion
- 1977 Major Award: Nastro d'Argento for Best Subject
- Key Collaborator: Jacques Perrin
- Occupations: screenwriter, film director, film editor
Questions readers ask
Which of Zurlini's films were based on Vasco Pratolini's writing?
Both The Girls of San Frediano (1954) and Family Diary (1962) were adapted from Pratolini's work.
What recognition did Zurlini receive for his final film?
The Desert of the Tartars (1976) earned him both the David di Donatello and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Director.
Achievements
- Golden Lion — 1962
- Notable work: Girl with a Suitcase
- Notable work: Family Diary
- Notable work: Violent Summer
- Worked as film director, screenwriter and film editor
