Ettore Scola

The Profile

Ettore Scola (1931–2016) was an Italian film director and screenwriter, central to commedia all’italiana. He explored Italy’s social and political life with wit and empathy, directing classics such as C'eravamo tanto amati, Una giornata particolare, and Brutti, sporchi e cattivi.

Winner of Best Director at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival for Brutti, sporchi e cattivi; collaborated with Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Vittorio Gassman, and Nino Manfredi; several of his films received Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language Film.

Nine enthusiastic reviews trace Ettore Scola’s blend of social satire and humanist comedy, from Rome’s courtyards to suburban shanties. Highlights include A Special Day, We All Loved Each Other So Much, and Ugly, Dirty and Bad. Reviewers praise Scola’s direction, writing, and actors like Mastroianni, Loren, Gassman, and Manfredi.