Fausto Brizzi
An Italian filmmaker who turned the anxieties and humor of modern masculinity into a string of box-office comedy hits.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Italian screenwriter, producer and film director·Birthday: November 15·Generation X
Biography
Fausto Brizzi carved out a distinct niche in Italian cinema as a chronicler of contemporary manhood, friendship, and midlife crisis. He first found major success as a screenwriter, honing a sharp, conversational style. His directorial debut, 'Notte prima degli esami,' tapped into a national nostalgia for youthful folly and became a phenomenon. Brizzi's real signature, however, became the 'Ex' film series, starting with 'Ex.' These comedies, following a group of friends navigating love, divorce, and aging, struck a deep chord with audiences, blending broad humor with moments of genuine sentiment. While often working within commercial genres, his films consistently presented a specific, recognizable Italy—one where lifelong friendships are tested by changing social mores and personal failures are always softened by camaraderie.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Fausto was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Fausto Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Fausto's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and directed the massively successful teen comedy 'Notte prima degli esami' (2006).
- Created and directed the popular 'Ex' film series, beginning with 'Ex' (2009).
- His films have consistently ranked among the highest-grossing Italian productions of their release years.
- Started his career as a successful screenwriter for television before moving into film.
Did You Know?
He initially studied law before pivoting to a career in film and television.
Brizzi frequently collaborates with actor Claudio Bisio, who has appeared in many of his films.
He is known for incorporating cameo appearances from other famous Italian directors and personalities in his movies.
Beyond directing, he has often served as a producer on his own projects and for other filmmakers.
“Italian comedy isn't just jokes; it's the truth about our daily lives.”
