Ugo Fantozzi
 |
| Ugo Fantozzi | |
|---|---|
| Fantozzi character | |
 Ugo Fantozzi (Paolo Villaggio) in the film Fantozzi | |
| First appearance | Fantozzi (novel - 1971) Fantozzi (1975 film) |
| Last appearance | Fantozzi 2000 - La clonazione (film - 1999) Tragica vita del ragionier Fantozzi (novel - 2012) |
| Created by | Paolo Villaggio |
| In-universe information | |
| Nickname | Fantocci, Pupazzi, Bambocci, Bacarozzi |
| Race | White |
| Occupation | accountant |
| Spouse | Pina Fantozzi |
| Children | Mariangela Fantozzi (daughter) |
| Relatives | Uga Fantozzi (granddaughter) |
| Nationality | Italian |
Ugo Fantozzi is a fictional character, appearing in Italian literature and film, created by Paolo Villaggio.
The character
Fantozzi was created in 1968 out of a television program in which Villaggio played a stereotypically unlucky Italian salaryman.
The first collection, Fantozzi, was published in 1971, and introduced a hapless accountant, fighting with the vices, the tortures and the changes in Italian society. He is an extravagant exaggeration of customs and habits of Italy's lower middle class.
Fantozzi has an ugly and slovenly wife named Pina who is never satisfied, particularly in bed. He also has a daughter named Mariangela who is so ugly that everyone mistakes her for a monkey. To spare her feelings Fantozzi pretends that she is the most beautiful girl in the world.
Since Fantozzi's family atmosphere is so bad, he attempts to escape by having fun with his colleagues at Megaditta ("Mega-Company"), the large company where he works. However, the dynamics of the workplace are just as dysfunctional as his personal life but, while Fantozzi's colleagues sell out their dignity and compete with each other to allow themselves to be treated like floor mats, Fantozzi always tries to maintain his honor.
Fantozzi is not always submissive, and can sometimes react ruthlessly, often having the courage to rebel and assert his dignity, and also that of his colleagues, when others cannot. It is, however, his superiors who always retain the power and Fantozzi, due to his dignity and gentle soul, is forced to endure the worst possible suffering.
Books
- Fantozzi, Milano, Rizzoli, 1971.
- Il secondo tragico libro di Fantozzi, Milano, Rizzoli, 1974.
- Le lettere di Fantozzi, Milano, Rizzoli, 1976.
- Fantozzi contro tutti, Milano, Rizzoli, 1979.
- Fantozzi subisce ancora, Milano, Rizzoli, 1983.
- Caro direttore, ci scrivo... : lettere del tragico ragioniere, raccolte da Paolo Villaggio, Milano, Mondadori, 1993.
- Fantozzi saluta e se ne va: le ultime lettere del rag. Ugo Fantozzi, Milano, Mondadori, 1994.
- Tragica vita del ragionier Fantozzi, Milano, Mondadori, 2012.
Films
- Fantozzi, directed by Luciano Salce (1975)
- Il secondo tragico Fantozzi, directed by Luciano Salce (1976)
- Fantozzi contro tutti, directed by Neri Parenti (1980)
- Fantozzi subisce ancora, directed by Neri Parenti (1983)
- Superfantozzi, directed by Neri Parenti (1986)
- Fantozzi va in pensione, directed by Neri Parenti (1988)
- Fantozzi alla riscossa, directed by Neri Parenti (1990)
- Fantozzi in paradiso, directed by Neri Parenti (1993)
- Fantozzi - Il ritorno, directed by Neri Parenti (1996)
- Fantozzi 2000 - La clonazione, directed by Domenico Saverni (1999)