“Dear Suso, I am satisfied with my career, I have made plays and films that have been successful all over the world. May I call you ‘Tu’?” ”Of course, Franchino, of course you can!”
This is how Caterina d’Amico, Suso’s daughter and head of education at the Franco Zeffirelli Foundation, recalls a curious conversation between Franco Zeffirelli and Suso Cecchi d’Amico in the early 1990s, when the Maestro was an international celebrity.
Yet, although she had gained the obvious approval, the habit established over many years of dating was stronger than the intentions, and Zeffirelli continued to call her Lei.
Zeffirelli had met the great screenwriter while still very young, at the dawn of her career, when she was taking her first steps in cinema and theater alongside Luchino Visconti, of whom Suso Cecchi d’Amico was a friend and workmate. In fact, with him he will write about the milestones of Italian cinema including “Bellissima”, “Senso”, “Rocco and his brothers”, “Il Gattopardo”, “Ludwig”.
Already the author of unforgettable screenplays alongside directors of the caliber of Visconti, De Sica, Antonioni, Monicelli, Rosi and Comencini, Suso Cecchi d’Amico collaborated on Franco Zeffirelli’s first cinematic experience and maturation by writing the screenplay of “The Taming of the Shrew” in ‘ 67. Then followed the two great successes Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna in ’72 and Gesù di Nazareth in ’77.
But in Franco Zeffirelli’s memories, the image of the artistic and professional power of Suso Cecchi d’Amico will always be closely linked to an extraordinary feeling of affection and gratitude…
“I met Suso Cecchi d’Amico as soon as I arrived in Rome, Luchino Visconti’s most faithful friend and work partner, she immediately offered me advice and support.
Florentine like me with deep roots in the heart of our culture and our character, she was always ready to embrace even the most difficult causes, witty and ingenious as only Florentines can be.
If you had a problem that was tormenting you, you confided it in her and you could be sure that she would know how to help you decipher and defuse it.
She was undoubtedly the great mother of Italian cinema.” FZ
Precisely today, on the day of her birth, we would like to greet Suso Cecchi d’Amico in this way, godmother and lady of Italian cinema, friend and confidant, to whom the Maestro was never able, despite himself, to give the first name.