Italian director Monicelli commits suicide at 95
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Italian film director and master of comedy Mario Monicelli, 95, committed suicide Monday by throwing himself out of a hospital window, the ANSA news agency reported, citing hospital sources.
Monicelli jumped from a window in the San Giovanni hospital in Rome where he was being treated for a prostate tumor, it said.
"Death doesn't frighten me, it bothers me. It bothers me for example that someone can be there tomorrow and but me I am no longer there. What bothers me is not longer being alive, not being dead," he said in a 2007 interview with Vanity Fair.
Monicelli made his name with films such as "Amici Mei" (My Dear Friends"), considered the best of Italian-style comedies and one of his best films.
His other famous films include "Big Deal on Madonna Street" from 1958, starring Marcello Mastroianni and Claudia Cardinale, and "La Granda Guerra"(The Great War") a year later.
It was this last film that won him the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival and an Oscar nomination.
Monicelli, born in 1915 in Viareggio in Tuscany, also worked in theatre and television. In all he directed some 65 films.
His popularity in Italy was in evidence Monday evening when his death was announced live on Rai television.
He was also known as a leftist and critical of what he said were the materialist, philistine values embodied by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
In 2001 he collaborated on a documentary about the G8 summit in Genoa where hundreds of anti-globalisation protesters were injured in clashes with police.
Just last June he called on students to protest against culture budget cuts proposed by Berlusconi's right-wing coalition government.
"Italy is known overseas only for its culture and it is just that that they are looking today to fight," he said, denouncing at the same time the "get-rich culture" of the times.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments