Cesare Zavattini was born in Luzzara, in the province of Reggio Emilia, on 20 September 1902. Zavattini was an eclectic intellectual, who was characterized by the mastery of different languages ​​(writing, cinema, poetry, comics, painting, theatre) associated with a strong attitude for renewal and experimentation in different forms of expression.

His literary career began in Parma in 1926, and in 1931 he published his first volume ''Parliamo tanto di me'' which was a great success. Later in the 1940s, he began to approach the world of cinema by collaborating with great directors such as Luchino Visconti and Vittorio De Sica. His work gave an original and lasting contribution to the Italian and international cinema of the twentieth century.

Among the many awards received: the two Oscars in 1947 and 1949, the World Peace Prize in 1955 and the "Writers Guild of America Medaillon" in 1977, an award from the American Film Writers Association, an honour previously granted only to Charlie Chaplin. Cesare Zavattini died in Rome on 13 October 1989. He is buried in his Luzzara.