Biography
The filmmaking career of Carmelo Bene (1937 - 2002) lasted from 1968 to 1973, six years out of a lengthy time spent in the theater that made Bene one of the most celebrated figures of the Italian avant-garde in the second half of the 20th century. Bene first made a name for himself with a controversial production of Camus’ Caligula in Rome in 1959. Subsequent productions retained this sense of notoriety, and Bene (like Pasolini) quickly acquired a police record. Bene, however, would come to bemoan the controversy his work created, because it attracted an audience looking for shocks and titillation, while he himself was more concerned with reinventing the vocabulary of the theater: sets, gestures, texts. Bene’s turn to cinema expanded that quest to reinvent. His films resist synopsis because, although they are often derived from narrative sources, Bene uses these sources against themselves and as a springboard for his critique of the stultifying traps of representation and interpretation. The films are wildly inventive and visually arresting on several levels: the performance styles of his actors, including eccentric movements, gestures and grimaces; the sets, costumes and makeup; the editing; and the use of the camera, with stable shots regularly punctuated by handheld camera work, extreme close ups and the occasional baroque use of zooms, dollies, cranes, elaborate pans and exaggerated camera angles. They resemble something like the work of Jack Smith crossed with the experimental Pasolini of Teorema and Pigsty. One constant feature of Bene’s work is its satire of heterosexuality. The two sexes keep trying to communicate with each other, but always fail to do so. Bene’s work constantly deflates masculinist pretenses at mastery: his male characters tend to be hapless and often hysterical, while his female characters are alternately predatory and remote, and unknowable in either case. But this satire is merely the most visible form of Bene’s revolt against convention and communication. Over and over again in the films, everyday actions become hopelessly complicated or endlessly interrupted. His characters often end up staring quizzically offscreen or even into mirrors, as if they were no more sure than we are of the meaning of what they see. Indeed, identity and by extension agency seem to get suspended, along with meaning. What is left is glorious spectacle and enigmas for the eyes and ears: endless music; babbling, stuttering text; excessive and exciting images. – David Pendleton
Acted in 34
2020s
- 2023
Rushes di Otello
Movie
- 2022
BENE! Vita di Carmelo, la macchina attoriale
Movie
2000s
- 2003
Lorenzaccio, al di là di de Musset e Benedetto Varchi
Movie
Necro not(to b)e
Sé stesso
- 2002
Otello o la deficienza della donna
Movie
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Pinocchio / Geppetto / Mastro Ciliegia / Grillo Parlante / Mangiafuoco / Volpe / Lucignolo
- 1998
Voce dei Canti
Movie
- 1997
Macbeth Horror Suite
Movie
In-vulnerabilità d'Achille (tra Sciro e Ilio)
Movie
- 1994
Carmelo Bene: Uno contro tutti
Movie
- 1990
Hommelette for Hamlet, operetta inqualificabile (da J. Laforgue)
Amleto
1980s
- 1985
L'Adelchi di Alessandro Manzoni in forma di concerto
Movie
- 1983
Manfred, versione per concerto in forma di oratorio
Movie
- 1982
La poesia dimenticata
Movie
- 1981
Riccardo III
Riccardo III
- 1980
Modi di vivere - Giorgio Colli. Una conoscenza per cambiare la vita
Movie
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Amleto
- 1977
Bene! Quattro diversi modi di morire in versi: Majakovskij-Blok-Esènin-Pasternak
Movie
- 1975
Claro
Movie
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Hamlet
Ventriloquio
Jean des Esseintes
- 1972
Salomé
Erode Antipa / Onorio
- 1971
Tre nel mille
Pannocchia
- 1970
Necropolis
Man with leather jacket
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
1960s
- 1969
Capricci
Poet
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
The Protagonist
Il barocco leccese
Voice over
Hermitage
The Man
- 1967
Catch As Catch Can
Prete
Il canto d'amore di Alfred J. Prufrock
Movie
- 1966
Bis
Movie
Directed 25
2020s
- 2023
Rushes di Otello
Director
2000s
- 2003
Lorenzaccio, al di là di de Musset e Benedetto Varchi
Director
- 2002
Otello o la deficienza della donna
Director
- 2001
Quattro momenti su tutto il nulla
Director
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Director
- 1998
Voce dei Canti
Director
- 1997
Macbeth Horror Suite
Director
In-vulnerabilità d'Achille (tra Sciro e Ilio)
Director
- 1996
Canti Orfici
Director
- 1990
Cos'è il teatro?!
Director
Hommelette for Hamlet, operetta inqualificabile (da J. Laforgue)
Director
1980s
- 1985
L'Adelchi di Alessandro Manzoni in forma di concerto
Director
- 1983
Manfred, versione per concerto in forma di oratorio
Director
- 1982
La poesia dimenticata
Director
- 1981
Riccardo III
Director
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Director
- 1977
Bene! Quattro diversi modi di morire in versi: Majakovskij-Blok-Esènin-Pasternak
Director
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Director
Ventriloquio
Director
- 1972
Salomé
Director
- 1970
Don Giovanni
Director
1960s
- 1969
Capricci
Director
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
Director
Il barocco leccese
Director
Hermitage
Director
Wrote 15
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Writer
- 1997
Macbeth Horror Suite
Writer
In-vulnerabilità d'Achille (tra Sciro e Ilio)
Adaptation
- 1990
Hommelette for Hamlet, operetta inqualificabile (da J. Laforgue)
Writer
1980s
- 1983
Manfred, versione per concerto in forma di oratorio
Writer
- 1981
Riccardo III
Adaptation
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Screenplay
- 1977
Bene! Quattro diversi modi di morire in versi: Majakovskij-Blok-Esènin-Pasternak
Adaptation
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Writer
Ventriloquio
Adaptation
- 1972
Salomé
Writer
- 1970
Don Giovanni
Writer, Screenplay
1960s
- 1969
Capricci
Writer
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
Writer, Novel
Hermitage
Novel, Writer
Produced 7
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Producer
- 1990
Hommelette for Hamlet, operetta inqualificabile (da J. Laforgue)
Producer
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Producer
- 1972
Salomé
Producer
- 1970
Don Giovanni
Producer
1960s
- 1969
Capricci
Producer
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
Producer
Costume and makeup 5
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Costume Design, Makeup Designer
- 1997
In-vulnerabilità d'Achille (tra Sciro e Ilio)
Costume Design
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Costume Design
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Costume Design
1960s
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
Costume Design
Art department 5
1990s
- 1999
Pinocchio, ovvero lo spettacolo della Provvidenza
Art Direction
- 1997
In-vulnerabilità d'Achille (tra Sciro e Ilio)
Art Direction
1970s
- 1978
Amleto di Carmelo Bene (da Shakespeare a Laforgue)
Art Direction
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Art Direction
1960s
- 1968
Our Lady of the Turks
Production Design
Sound 2
1970s
- 1973
One Hamlet Less
Music Coordinator
- 1970
Don Giovanni
Music Coordinator
Appearances8
2020s
- 2024
La parte maledetta. Viaggio ai confini del teatro - Carmelo Bene
Himself (archive footage)
È severamente vietata la sosta in palcoscenico ai non autorizzati. Un documentario di meno su Carmelo Bene
Himself (archive footage)
2010s
- 2017
Tracce di Bene
Self
1990s
- 1996
Canti Orfici
Himself
Ai Rotoli
Self
- 1990
Cos'è il teatro?!
Himself
1960s
- 1969
Umano Non Umano
Self
- 1965
Un'ora prima di Amleto, più Pinocchio
Himself