Ennio

Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) actually wanted to be a doctor, but when he was young his father decided he should attend the conservatory and become a trumpeter. A relative outsider due to his humble background, Morricone turned to studying composition. He never intended to be a film music composer, however, and only did it to finance his experimental abstract pieces. Increasing numbers of film directors discovered his talents, resulting in unforgettable scores for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (with its famous hyena’s wail), Novecento, Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, and The Hateful Eight.

Over the course of its three hours, Ennio: The Maestro offers a rare glimpse into the mind of this musical genius. He was a man who loved chess, and who always composed in silence, using only pencil and paper. In an extended interview running through the film, the maestro himself serves as our invaluable guide. A fascinating and thrilling documentary that includes plenty of archive footage, alongside recollections from filmmakers and fellow composers such as Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Barry Levinson, Roland Joffé, Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Bruce Springsteen, and Hans Zimmer.