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Rome's artistic legacy has profoundly shaped Western culture, arguably more than any other nation. This influence extended through the medieval era with Church art and music, and today, Italians remain pioneers in the art of filmmaking. Here are ten of the most remarkable Italian directors who have left an indelible mark on modern cinema.
10. Roberto Benigni 1952
Best Film To Watch: Life is Beautiful
Benigni, the youngest director on this list, is likely the most recognizable to contemporary audiences. He both starred in and directed the tragicomedy Life is Beautiful, which tells the story of a Jewish man and his son in a concentration camp. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, with Benigni winning Best Actor and Best Foreign Film. He has since directed two additional films, including Pinocchio. As a young director, Benigni has a promising career ahead.
9. Sergio Leone 1929 – 1989
Best Film To Watch: Once Upon a Time in the West
Leone, renowned for his spaghetti westerns, pioneered the use of extreme close-ups in the genre. Born into a cinematic family—his father was a film pioneer and his mother an actress—Leone often had his composer create music before filming began. This music was played on set to inspire actors during their performances. Initially, critical reception of Leone's work was divided, as spaghetti westerns were seen as low-prestige. However, he is now celebrated as a master filmmaker.
8. Pier Paolo Pasolini 1922 – 1975
Best Film To Watch: Mamma Roma (a highly controversial film in its era, depicting the story of a prostitute and her son striving for a better life).
Pasolini is renowned for his provocative and controversial final film, Salo (The 120 Days of Sodom), inspired by the Marquis de Sade's work of the same name. As a filmmaker, Pasolini developed a unique style of picaresque neorealism, revealing the harsh realities often ignored by societal and political forces. His works also emphasized the concept of 'natural sacredness,' the belief that the world is inherently holy without requiring spiritual or supernatural intervention. Pasolini was an openly communist, homosexual, and atheist artist.
7. Franco Zeffirelli 1932
Best Film To Watch: Romeo and Juliet
Zeffirelli gained international acclaim primarily for his 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, but he is perhaps even more famous for directing the 1977 mini-series Jesus of Nazareth, which continues to air globally during Easter. In his early years, Zeffirelli studied art and architecture at the University of Florence and collaborated with renowned directors like Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, and Luchino Visconti. He is also celebrated for his opera direction at prestigious venues worldwide. Despite being openly gay, Zeffirelli has faced criticism from the LGBTQ+ community for supporting the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality.
6. Roberto Rossellini 1906 – 1977
Best Film To Watch: Roma città aperta (Set in Rome during Nazi Occupation in World War II)
Rossellini was a pivotal figure in Italian neorealist cinema, a genre known for its focus on the lives of the poor and working class, filmed on location, and often featuring nonprofessional actors. Francois Truffaut, a renowned film critic, highlighted in a 1963 essay that Rossellini's influence in France, especially among the directors of the Nouvelle Vague, was so profound that he was essentially 'the father of the French New Wave.' Rossellini was married to Ingrid Bergman and is the father of Isabella Rossellini.
5. Luchino Visconti 1906 – 1976
Best Film To Watch: While many might suggest The Damned, I highly recommend Death In Venice for its profound emotional depth and breathtaking cinematography.
Visconti was born into one of the wealthiest and most noble families in northern Italy, in Milan. His father held the title of Duke of Grazzano. His privileged upbringing allowed him to interact with prominent figures in the arts, including Puccini and Toscanini. Primarily a neorealist, Visconti gained international recognition when his film The Damned was nominated for an Oscar in 1969. His films are renowned for their decadence and opulent beauty, a hallmark of his unique aesthetic. He remains one of my personal favorite directors.
4. Vittorio De Sica 1902 – 1974
Best Film To Watch: Two Women (a poignant tale of a mother striving to shield her teenage daughter from the atrocities of war).
Vittorio De Sica, another luminary of neorealist cinema, was born into poverty before finding success as an actor. This led him to establish his own theater company, which primarily staged light comedies. During this period, he crossed paths with Luchino Visconti and collaborated extensively with Cesare Zavattini, a brilliant neorealist screenwriter. Among his many works, Two Women, starring Sophia Loren, stands out as his masterpiece.
3. Federico Fellini 1920 – 1993
Best Film To Watch: 8 1/2 (often hailed as one of the greatest films in cinematic history).
Fellini is celebrated for his unique style, blending fantasy with baroque imagery, and is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of the 20th century. During Mussolini's Fascist regime, Fellini and his brother, Riccardo, were members of the Avanguardista, the compulsory fascist youth group for Italian males. His films earned numerous accolades, including four Oscars, two Silver Lions, a Palme d'Or, and a grand prize at the Moscow International Film Festival.
2. Michelangelo Antonioni 1912 – 2007
Best Film To Watch: Blow-up (a gripping tale of a photographer entangled in a murder investigation).
Antonioni, a modernist filmmaker, is celebrated for his profound influence on cinematic aesthetics. Born into a wealthy landowning family in Northern Italy, he and his brother spent much of their childhood outdoors, mingling with friends from less affluent backgrounds. David Bordwell notes that Antonioni's films significantly shaped later art cinema, stating, 'more than any other director, he inspired filmmakers to embrace elliptical and open-ended storytelling.'
1. Bernardo Bertolucci 1940
Best Film To Watch: The Last Emperor (the story of China’s final emperor, Aisin-Gioro Puyi).
Bertolucci, an Academy Award-winning director, earned the Best Director accolade for The Last Emperor, the first Western film about China produced with full cooperation from the Chinese government since 1949. Born to a poet father, Bertolucci initially aspired to follow in his footsteps. He has directed numerous critically acclaimed films, including The Last Tango in Paris.
