![\"ciak_robert-de-niro-carlo-verdone\"](\"http:\/\/www.wakapedia.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/ciak_robert-de-niro-carlo-verdone.jpg\")
<\/a>Carlo Verdone and Robert De Niro – Ciak cover<\/p><\/div>\n
Carlo Verdone<\/strong> is one of Italy\u2019s leading comedians, screenwriters and film directors<\/strong>. Born the son of the famous film critic, Mario Verdone, from a young age he was surrounded by world famous actors and directors including Federico Fellini<\/a><\/strong>, Cesare Zavattini<\/a><\/strong>, Pier Paolo Pasolini<\/strong> <\/a>and Alberto Sordi<\/a><\/strong>. Having gained his masters in film direction at Europe\u2019s oldest school of film, Rome\u2019s Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia<\/a><\/strong>, he entered the world of television during the 1970<\/strong>s. In 2005<\/strong>, he featured in the smash hit Manuale d\u2019amore<\/a> <\/strong><\/em>(The Ages of love\/Manual of Love), as well as its sequels in 2007<\/strong> and 2011<\/strong>. In 2013<\/strong> he appeared in Paolo Sorrentino\u2019s academy award-winning The Great Beauty<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n WAKAPEDIA’s CARLO VERDONE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Carlo and I during “The Graet Beuaty” shooting<\/p><\/div>\n SaraWaka encountered Carlo on the set of said Oscar-winning masterpiece. Under his guise of comedian-cum-film-director-cum-national-treasure<\/strong><\/em>, he entertained the poor girl, turning the long arduous hours following her leg break into constant hysterical laughter. SaraWaka\u2019s time on set was long and peppered – far too often – with people wondering if the cast on her leg was real or a prop, so much so she took to pretending that she couldn\u2019t speak Italian just to avoid the question. Amongst all those annoying inquries, enter Carlo stage-right with a slightly different approach:<\/p>\n \u201cAre you Japanese? You\u2019d never guess, but I have the picture Yoko Ono<\/a> <\/strong>painted immediately after John Lennon<\/a><\/strong> was shot.\u201d<\/em> No mention of the plaster cast; he had SaraWaka\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n A Yoko Ono painting?<\/strong> Who is this person?!? She didn\u2019t recognize him at all. Having heard the introduction, SaraWaka wanted to hear what else this petit-bearded uncle had to say. And then, after a short while, the pieces fell together and our heroine figured out his identity. Now, you cannot not contest that Carlo is top-level comedian in Italy<\/strong>, but SaraWaka would have to confess that she was yet to see any of his work. And on top of THAT, on The Great Beauty<\/a><\/strong> <\/em>set, he was rocking a short beard and specs, so it wasn\u2019t exactly her fault that she didn\u2019t clock him straight away. Being a pro though, SaraWaka didn\u2019t let on mid-conversation that the penny had finally dropped, and talked as if she was on board from the get-go. As the Japanese proverb says, fake it ’till you make it<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n She later found out that Carlo busted her the second he asked about one of his works and SaraWaka was unable to make any comment of note. Ever-classy Carlo, though, didn\u2019t hold it against her and shortly after DVDs of all his films and a book he had written arrived at the Waka family home in Milan. It reminded Sara of being set extra homework when she was a naughty girl at school\u2026. But, with each movie watched, her love for Carlo grew and grew. Even now, if SaraWaka needs someone to run some ideas by or someone to bemoan the state of life and love to, she has Carlo Verdone<\/strong>, Italy\u2019s very own Takeshi Kitano<\/a><\/strong>. From being a strange man in beard and specs, he now feels like SaraWaka\u2019s very own uncle.<\/p>\n Carlo Verdone’s characters<\/p><\/div>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n SaraWaka:<\/strong> Ciao Carletto!! [yeah, we\u2019re close enough for pet names]! How are you?<\/p>\n Carlo:<\/strong> Saretta [if you give, you have to take]! It\u2019s been a while, I\u2019m good. I\u2019ve been awarded the Robert Bresson Prize<\/a><\/strong> at the Venice Film Festival! Usually it goes to famous authors or directors; I\u2019m the first comedian! I can’t believe it.\u00a0 How are you??<\/p>\n SaraWaka:<\/strong> Hmmm\u2026 hard to say. I recently felt hard for someone, but it all came to an end three months in.\u00a0 So feeling a little bit down. I think I\u2019ll leave love for a while now. Passionate love is a dangerous thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n Carlo:<\/strong> Woah! Passionate love, huh? That brings me back. I made a film called “Viaggi di Nozze<\/a><\/strong><\/em>” (Honeymoon) about three couples. One couple had too much \u2018passionate love\u2019<\/strong> compressed into that short, intense time and came to know too much about each other. Upon their return from the honeymoon, all mystery was lost and their passion died. That was the story. Passion shouldn\u2019t be poured too quickly or you risk drowning the love<\/strong>; take your time and pour it slowly. That is if you want you love to grow steadily over a long time.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>