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Ermanno Olmi
A largely unheralded director, Olmi is known for his simple technical style and concern for the issues facing working people have made his films poetic insights into human strength and integrity. Olmi's parents were peasants who moved to the city to find jobs. For several years, his mother worked for the Edison-Volta company, where Olmi landed his first job as a clerk. Through his participation in company theater and film events, he was eventually put in charge of Edison's film department.