Born in San Miniara da Pisa, Tuscany (Virrorio in 1929, Paolo in 1931). They first rook interest in the cinema while studying liberal arts (Paolo) and law (Virrorio) at the University of Pisa. In 1950, in association with Valenrino Orsini, they founded a film club in Pisa. In 1954, they made a short film in collaboration with Cesare Zavarrini and later worked as assistant directors to Rossellini, Emmer, Pellegrini and others. They also made several documentaries with Valenrino Orsini, who was their collaborator on their first two features. They were soon recognized as two of the most important masters of the modern İtalian cinema.