She was the first woman ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director: that was in 1976 and the film was Pasqualino Settebellezze (Seven Beauties) which starred an extraordinary Giancarlo Giannini.
Yesterday, on being awarded an Honorary Oscar by the Academy, as announced several months ago, 91-year-old director Lina Wertmüller was true to her ironic nature exclaiming that “this statue should change name, why Oscar? Let’s give it a woman’s name, let’s call it Anna”. The award was presented by fellow directors Greta Gerwig and Jane Campion. Paying their respects onstage, two luminaries: Isabella Rossellini and Sofia Loren.
Since her debut in 1963 with I basilischi (The Lizards) the director has consistently chosen to represent those at the bottom of society, offering an unvarnished view of life alongside a vivid portrayal of the places where her characters are rooted. These settings range from her home town, Palazzo San Gervasio (province of Potenza) to places in nearby Apulia “blessed with everything”, Sicily, Sardinia and the cities of Rome and Naples, using the latter city to endow the big screen with unforgettable glimpses and stories.
Read the itinerary of Lina Wertmüller’s films here.