Ermanno Olmi, a renowned and accomplished Italian film director, was born on July 24, 1931, in the picturesque city of Bergamo, situated in the region of Lombardy, Italy. Throughout his illustrious career, Olmi's cinematic endeavors have been distinguished by their profound humanistic and reflective qualities, meticulously capturing the essence of ordinary individuals as they navigate their daily lives amidst distinct and evocative landscapes and settings.
Notably, Olmi's cinematic endeavors are deeply entrenched in the artistic heritage of Italian neorealism, a stylistic movement that prioritizes realism and authenticity. Nevertheless, the director himself has maintained that his body of work was, in fact, a counterpoint to the neorealist movement, as he deliberately eschewed the use of professional actors, opting instead for non-professional actors to populate his films, while also frequently employing authentic locations, which diverged from the conventional neorealist practice of featuring professional actors in their productions.
While it is true that neorealism and the use of non-professional actors are often viewed as distinct cinematic approaches, many notable directors within the neorealist movement have, in fact, opted to cast non-professional actors in pivotal roles, thereby obscuring the traditional boundaries between these two styles.
