Scola was born in Trevico, Avellino, Campania. He entered the film industry as a screenwriter in 1953, and directed his first film, "Let's Talk About Women", in 1964. In 1974 Scola enjoyed international success with "We All Loved Each Other So Much" ("C'eravamo tanto amati"), a wide fresco of post-World War II Italian life and politics, dedicated to fellow director Vittorio De Sica. The film won the Golden Prize at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1976 he won the Prix de la mise en scène at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival for "Brutti, sporchi e cattivi".