Education
Born in Luzzara, near Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, on 20 September 1902, Zavattini studied law at the University of Parma, but devoted himself to writing.
Born in Luzzara, near Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, on 20 September 1902, Zavattini studied law at the University of Parma, but devoted himself to writing.
In 1930 he relocated to Milan, and worked for the book and magazine publisher Angelo Rizzoli. After Rizzoli began producing films in 1934, Zavattini received his first screenplay and story credits in 1936. Sciuscià (Shoeshine, 1946) Ladri di biciclette (Bicycle Thieves, American release title, The Bicycle Thief, 1948), Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan, 1951) and Umberto Doctorate. (1952) In his only experience in Hollywood, Zavattini wrote the screenplay for The Children of Sanchez (1978) based on Oscar Lewis’s book of the same title, a classic study of a Mexican family.
Zavattini died in Rome on 13 October 1989.
Among the many celebrated directors of Italian and international cinema Zavattini worked with in his more than 80 films are: Vittorio de Sica, Michelangelo Antonioni, Hall Bartlett, Alessandro Blasetti, Mauro Bolognini, Mario Camerini, René Clément, Federico Fellini, Pietro Germi, Alberto Lattuada, Mario Monicelli, Elio Petri, Dino Risi, Roberto Rossellini, Mario Soldati Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Luchino Visconti. In the story, the character is a teacher of cinema.
In 1983 he was a member of the jury at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival.