Agency Report
Italian film director Lina Wertmueller, the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for directing, has died aged 93, local news media reported Thursday.
Wertmueller, considered the country’s most famous female director, began her career in movies as an assistant to Federico Fellini before going on to become the queen of Italian comedy with a series of films in the 1960s and 1970s.
Immediately recognisable with her white spectacles and a vibrant sense of humour, Wertmueller’s long list of films also explored political and social themes, from fascism and sexual violence to class struggle, often featuring a down-on-his-luck everyman character.
“Italy mourns the death of Lina Wertmueller, a director whose class and unmistakable style left an everlasting mark on Italian and world cinema,” said Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini.
In 1977, Wertmueller broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be nominated for a best directing Oscar, for her tragicomedy “Seven Beauties” about an army deserter during World War II trying to survive his time in a concentration camp.
Another female director would not be nominated until 1994, when Jane Campion – who has called Wertmueller a “warrior” – was given the nod for “The Piano.”
