Renato Carpentieri is particularly good at learned, authoritative men whose certainty proves unreliable. We value his care with words and his dry humour, especially when a supporting part lets him be funny without becoming a joke.
Fi1m perspective
In Caro diario (1993), Renato Carpentieri plays Gerardo, a scholar whose austerity makes him a useful companion for Nanni Moretti's comedy. He takes the man's learning seriously and leaves us free to doubt his judgement. We warmed to Gerardo because Carpentieri allows him to be ridiculous without treating him with contempt. It is a supporting performance with enough character to hold our attention through the film's digressions.
His screen career began with Gianni Amelio's Porte aperte (1990), after years of theatre, and the supporting parts that followed suited an actor who could establish authority quickly. Puerto Escondido (1992) gave him Commissario Viola; Moretti made use of a different sort of certainty. These are men accustomed to being listened to. Carpentieri's vocal precision makes that plausible, but he can also let warmth or foolishness disturb their composure. We prefer him when those changes are given time, rather than when a film relies chiefly on his imposing manner.
Our reservation about Caro diario remains: some of its complaints go on longer than their interest warrants, and the scooter ride is its chief pleasure. Carpentieri does not make the film less uneven. What he supplies is a person worth following when Moretti chooses another detour. We do not need Gerardo to take over the film; we need enough curiosity about his next response to stay with him, and Carpentieri gives us that.
The later leading role of Lorenzo, the retired lawyer in La tenerezza (2017), gives his ability to show vulnerability in difficult older men more space. The performance is a reason to watch; the familiar treatment of loneliness is a reason to temper expectations. Later supporting work includes Alfredo in Paolo Sorrentino's The Hand of God (2021). Start with Caro diario if dry comedy appeals, and allow for Moretti taking longer than he needs.
Biography
Renato Carpentieri is an Italian actor, stage director and playwright. Born on 2 April 1943 in Savignano Irpino, Avellino, he studied architecture in Naples. From 1965 to 1974 he worked in the organisation and promotion of cultural events with the group Nuova Cultura. In 1975 he co-founded the stage company Teatro dei Mutamenti, where he worked as a director, actor and playwright until 1980. Since 1995 he has been artistic director of the Neapolitan company Libera Scena Ensemble.
Carpentieri made his film debut in 1990 in Gianni Amelio's Porte aperte. He appeared as Gerardo in Nanni Moretti's Caro diario (1993). In the same year he won a Nastro d'Argento for best supporting actor for his performance in Gabriele Salvatores' Puerto Escondido. His later film roles include appearances in Leopardi (2014), Piranhas (2019), The Life Ahead (2020), The Hand of God (2021) and Strangeness (2022). He received a David di Donatello for best actor for La tenerezza (2017).
