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The King of Laughter

English Title: The King of Laughter
Director(s): Mario Martone
Writer(s): Mario Martone, Ippolita Di Majo
Starring: Toni Servillo, Maria Nazionale, Cristiana Dell'Anna, Antonia Truppo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Roberto De Francesco, Lino Musella, Paolo Pierobon, Gianfelice Imparato, Iaia Forte
Production Year: 2021
Duration: 133 minutes
Genre: Biography, Drama
Language: Italian, Neapolitan with English subtitles

This biography focuses on the legendary actor and playwright Eduardo Scarpetta (played by Toni Servillo), and his father Eduardo De Filippo, another great Italian theater figure. Scarpetta’s staged works became standards of the theater and cemented the playwright as one of the greats of Italian comedy.

In the film, Scarpetta stages a parody of a tragedy by famed Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, causing a legal fight, the first ever copyright lawsuit in Italy, which forces Scarpetta to defend his reputation.

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