Alessandro Gassmann: 60 Years of Cinema and Social Commitment. With a thousand faces not only on the big screen but also in theater, television, and advertising.
A few years ago, he added an ‘n’ to his last name, restoring the original surname of his family. Son of a French mother, Juliette Mayniel, married to an Austrian, Sabina Knaflitz, who is also an actress, Alessandro left his mother Juliette’s home at the age of 14, a woman who was eccentric and a talented actress and painter (she played the sorceress Circe in the TV series Odyssey), to enter the court of King Vittorio.
Alessandro’s only son is Leo, a singer-songwriter and actor who, after winning the New Proposals category at the Sanremo Festival in 2020, recently portrayed Franco Califano in a successful TV movie.
From his debut with his father to his current success, Alessandro Gassmann has always been engaged in current issues. Reflecting on Instagram, he expresses deep concerns about the future. “My job is to observe life and, through my body, expressions, and voice, pretend to be someone else, convincing those who follow me of this,” he writes in his post. As a “privileged observer” who has been in this profession for 42 years, also becoming a director and screenwriter, Gassmann reflects on what impacts him the most: “climate change, wars, overpopulation, and all the frightening events we witness… The super-rich of the planet have entered politics and are dictating actions,” something “completely new and different” from “past dictatorships,” he writes on Instagram. “They aim to control global wealth, creating more and more disparity and leaving those already struggling with nothing but despair,” he adds, pointing out issues like “misinformation and fake news” with their “devastating power over an increasingly ignorant population that has lost the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood,” Gassmann continues. “What I hope to achieve – he concludes on Instagram – is to rediscover the humanity that I believe is naturally present in each of us, to once again appreciate the work more than the result, and to consider people for what they give rather than what they have. We need to practice kindness, hold hands, and listen to each other.”
In his book ‘Sbagliando l’Ordine delle Cose’ (Getting the Order of Things Wrong), which he wrote, Gassman tells his story, passions, emotions, and struggles, including the grief over his father’s death. He chose a title for this book that doesn’t smell sweet but contains an uneasiness, narrating his mistakes, false starts, and toughest challenges.
On stage, in film, on TV. His debut on the big screen dates back to 1982, at the age of 17 in the autobiographical film ‘Di padre in figlio’ (From Father to Son), co-written with his father. His collaboration with Gian Marco Tognazzi is significant. In 1993, they brought ‘Uomini senza donne’ (Men Without Women) to the stage. In 1997, Alessandro showcased his talent and versatility in ‘Hamam – Il Bagno Turco’ (Steam: The Turkish Bath), directed by Ferzan Ozpetek and selected for the Quinzaine at the Cannes Film Festival. Gassman captivated audiences and garnered international critical acclaim, earning him the Amidei Award for best emerging actor of the year. Some of his most successful films include ‘Mi fai un favore’ (Can You Do Me a Favor), ‘I miei piu’ cari amici’ (My Dearest Friends). With the film ‘The Transporter’ (2005), he made a leap into American cinema. In Italy, he starred in ‘Caos Calmo’ (Quiet Chaos) (2007) and ‘Il seme della Discordia’ (The Seed of Discord). In 2010, he appeared in the successful film ‘Basilicata Coast to Coast’ with Giovanna Mezzogiorno. In 2012, ‘Viva l’Italia’ by Massimiliano Bruno. In 2013, he directed ‘Razza Bastarda’ (Bastard Race). In 2014, he starred in ‘Tutta colpa di Freud’ (Blame Freud) by Paolo Genovese and ‘I nostri ragazzi’ (Our Kids) by Ivano De Matteo, and in 2015, Francesca Archibugi’s ‘Il nome del figlio’ (An Italian Name). In the last decade, among Alessandro Gassmann’s many works, there is also ‘Beata Ignoranza’ (Blissful Ignorance) by Massimiliano Bruno, as well as his directorial debut ‘Il premio’ (The Prize).
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