Most Washington dinner parties are hum drum affairs where the cast of characters are a bureaucratic version of "Groundhog Day." But occasionally something wonderful happens, a stunning talent is among the guests. That was last night, when three-time Oscar winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro was feted at the home of the Italian Embassy's cultural counselor, Antonio Bartoli. For me, who spent many hours in the thrall of director Bernardo Bertolucci, it was a special thrill.
Storaro's credits include "Reds," "Apocalypse Now," "The Last Emperor," for which he won Oscars, and two films that blew my mind in my formative years - "Last Tango in Paris" and "The Conformist," plus later loves such as "Bulworth." In addition to Bertolucci, he's worked with Warren Beatty a lot, including successes ("Reds') and duds ("Ishtar").
Storaro is a young and spry 70, and still working. According to IMDB his latest project, "33 Dias," is in pre-production.
He is in town for a Georgetown University Italian Research Institute conference that is happening today, where the other speakers include writers Mario Vargas Llosa and Allesandro Baricco.
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