A dark comedy centering on the lives of a Neapolitan based family whose father, a fish merchant, is so infatuated with the reality TV show "Grande Fratello" (the Italian version of "Big Brother") he starts living his life as if he were on it.
Acting
Aniello Arena's breakout performance — filmed while serving life in prison
Direction
Garrone blurs documentary grit with operatic absurdity
Production
The actual Grande Fratello house cameos as Luciano's obsession
Director
Matteo Garrone
Aniello Arena
Luciano
Loredana Simioli
Maria
Nando Paone
Michele
Graziella Marina
Mamma di Luciano
Nello Iorio
Massimone
Nunzia Schiano
Zia Nunzia
Rosaria D'Urso
Zia Rosaria
Giuseppina Cervizzi
Giusy
Claudia Gerini
Presentatrice Grande Fratello
Raffaele Ferrante
Enzo
Paola Minaccioni
Cliente romana
Ciro Petrone
Barista
Salvatore Misticone
Calzolaio
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Lead actor Aniello Arena was a former Camorrista serving life for murder; Garrone discovered him in prison theatre and got day-release permission to film. The final crane shot required a helicopter because Arena couldn't legally leave the ground.
Released as Berlusconi's media empire was collapsing, the film satirizes Italy's obsession with televised fame as economic escape hatch — Luciano's delusion mirrors a nation's.
IT
