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Blow-Up director Antonioni dies Blow-Up director Antonioni dies
(20 minutes later)
Italian film director Michelangelo Antonioni, renowned for his 1966 release Blow-Up, has died aged 94.Italian film director Michelangelo Antonioni, renowned for his 1966 release Blow-Up, has died aged 94.
He gained two Oscar nominations for the iconic release, and was awarded an honorary Academy Award for his life's work in 1995.He gained two Oscar nominations for the iconic release, and was awarded an honorary Academy Award for his life's work in 1995.
He was also nominated for the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, five times between 1960 and 1982.He was also nominated for the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or, five times between 1960 and 1982.
The director died peacefully at home on Monday night, his wife, actress Enrica Fico, told La Repubblica newspaper.The director died peacefully at home on Monday night, his wife, actress Enrica Fico, told La Repubblica newspaper.
Richard Mowe, a film writer and co-director of the Italian Film Festival UK, said Antonioni made productions "that were out of the conventional modes of expression".Richard Mowe, a film writer and co-director of the Italian Film Festival UK, said Antonioni made productions "that were out of the conventional modes of expression".
"He invented his own language of cinema - that's what made him very, very inventive," he said. "He didn't owe anything to anybody else. He was a total original." It's the last link with the great days of European art cinema Geoffrey Nowell-SmithAntonioni author "He invented his own language of cinema - that's what made him very, very inventive," he said. "He didn't owe anything to anybody else. He was a total original."
Geoffrey Nowell-Smith, the author of a book on Antonioni's film L'Avventura (The Adventure), described his works as being productions that "invite you to concentrate on them, like great music".
"It's extraordinary that he should die within a day of Ingmar Bergman - that's two greats in two days," said Mr Nowell-Smith, who also curated a season of his work at London's BFI Southbank.
"It's the last link with the great days of European art cinema."
Antonioni was married to Enrica FicoFilm critic Kim Newman paid tribute to the director, calling him an "important and fascinating film-maker".Antonioni was married to Enrica FicoFilm critic Kim Newman paid tribute to the director, calling him an "important and fascinating film-maker".
Newman said Antonioni's best films were all concerned with "how awful Italian post-war society is, and how trivial and superficial everybody has become".Newman said Antonioni's best films were all concerned with "how awful Italian post-war society is, and how trivial and superficial everybody has become".
"But the films are so beautiful and the people in them are so gorgeous, you can't but feel, well, it would be really great to be alienated, lovelorn and miserable like that.""But the films are so beautiful and the people in them are so gorgeous, you can't but feel, well, it would be really great to be alienated, lovelorn and miserable like that."
Antonioni was born in 1912 in Ferrara, north-eastern Italy, and came to attention as a film critic when he savaged the Italian comedies of the 1930s.Antonioni was born in 1912 in Ferrara, north-eastern Italy, and came to attention as a film critic when he savaged the Italian comedies of the 1930s.
In the 1940s, he enrolled at Italy's national film school and soon began working as a scriptwriter, collaborating with directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Enrico Fulchignoni.In the 1940s, he enrolled at Italy's national film school and soon began working as a scriptwriter, collaborating with directors such as Roberto Rossellini and Enrico Fulchignoni.
His debut feature, Story of A Love Affair, was released in 1950, but he did not achieve international recognition until L'avventura (The Adventure) in 1960. His debut feature, Story of A Love Affair, was released in 1950, but he did not achieve international recognition until L'Avventura in 1960.
Paralysed
In 1966, he signed a deal to make a trilogy of films for the English market with legendary Italian film producer Carlo Ponti.In 1966, he signed a deal to make a trilogy of films for the English market with legendary Italian film producer Carlo Ponti.
Paralysed
The first was Blow-Up, in which a photographer appears to have uncovered a murder in his photos.The first was Blow-Up, in which a photographer appears to have uncovered a murder in his photos.
Shot in London, and starring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave, it was his biggest international hit.Shot in London, and starring David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave, it was his biggest international hit.
In 1985, the director suffered a stroke that left him partially paralysed, but he continued to work behind the camera. "Filming for me is living," he said.In 1985, the director suffered a stroke that left him partially paralysed, but he continued to work behind the camera. "Filming for me is living," he said.
His last cinematic release was 2004's The Dangerous Thread of Things, one part of a trilogy of short films released under the title Eros.His last cinematic release was 2004's The Dangerous Thread of Things, one part of a trilogy of short films released under the title Eros.
A funeral will be held for the director in Italy on Thursday.A funeral will be held for the director in Italy on Thursday.