Sky Arte Premieres Francesco Zippel's Documentary on Vittorio De Sica

Sky Arte presents the first broadcast of the documentary Vittorio De Sica – La vita in scena on Saturday, October 17. Written and directed by Francesco Zippel, the film examines the life, works, and legacy of one of Italian and international cinema's undisputed masters, tracing his career across genres, eras, and languages. De Sica's name is tied to masterpieces including Ladri di biciclette, Umberto D., and La ciociara. The production relied on access to the De Sica family archives, which provided previously unpublished materials, along with contributions from contemporary filmmakers. Zippel describes De Sica as a figure who, more than fifty years after his death, continues to illuminate and inspire those making cinema today at every latitude and at the highest levels, as well as those who encountered him during their lives. The narrative is enriched by testimonies from figures including Wes Anderson, Francis Ford Coppola, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Ruben Östlund, Asghar Farhadi, Andrej Zvjagincev, Carlo Verdone, and Isabella Rossellini. Their perspectives combine with memories from family members, friends, and colleagues, creating a choral portrait of an auteur distinguished by his vision and his ability to reach a universal audience with images and emotions that entered the collective imagination. The broadcast is framed as a premiere in the spirit of neorealism and commedia all'italiana. Sky Arte's website content is curated by Artribune.