The Best Italian Directors
Italian film kicked off in the 1940s with the neo-realist movement and maintained their reputation as one of the greatest cinematic countries throughout the century. The films of this era went down as some of the greatest of all time and the directors as the greatest auteurs. While the neo-realist sub-genre was the building block, Italian cinema has stemmed from that into all other genres, developing new iconic styles of comedies, westerns, dramas and many more. The following list gives an overview of the greatest Italian filmmakers, and although many of them have more than five must-see masterpieces, the recommendations are a good place to start.
10. Lina Wertmuller
A pioneer for women filmmakers, Lina Wertmuller blazed a path with intelligent and controversial pictures. Her socially conscious cinema was both often shocking and critically significant.
Greatest Films:
- Seven Beauties
- Swept Away
- The Seduction of Mimi
- Love & Anarchy
- Ciao, Professore
9. Pier Paolo Pasolini
There is no director in his era, perhaps film history, that was as shocking and controversial as Pasolini. As an anarchic, atheistic and gay filmmaker Pasolini transferred the pressures he felt in his life into his films. Some of his most wild films are still shocking to today’s standards.
Greatest Films:
- The Gospel According to St. Matthew
- The Canterbury Tales
- Mamma Roma
- The Hawks and the Sparrows
- Salo
8. Mario Monicelli
Italian cinema is not often cited for it’s comedic contributions, but it should be due to Monicelli’s films. His satirical pictures are as funny as they are poignant, and while they aren’t as famous as they should be, they were highly influential on Italian film.
Greatest Films:
- The Great War
- Big Deal on Madonna Street
- Amici Miei
- For Love and Gold
- The Organizer
7. Dario Argento
It’s not often that horror directors reach any sort of critical acclaim but Argento was one of the few to surpass that bias. While his career eventually devolved into B-movie irrelevance, his masterpieces are unequaled.
Greatest Films:
- Deep Red
- Suspiria
- The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
- Phenomena
- Opera
6. Sergio Leone
Behind John Ford, nobody has revolutionized the western genre as much as Sergio Leone. His sweeping vistas combined with tough characters and compelling plots popularized the “spaghetti western” film.
Greatest Films:
- A Fistful of Dollars
- The Good the Bad and the Ugly
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Duck, You Sucker
- For A Few Dollars More
5. Roberto Rossellini
Rossellini came onto the scene with his trilogy of neo-realist war films, whose raw power shocked the world and became the standard for the genre. The second half of his career, with his muse Ingrid Bergman, is often thought of as early modernist.
Greatest Films:
- Paisan
- Journey to Italy
- Rome Open City
- Europa ’51
- Stromboli
4. Vittorio De Sica
Another central figure of neo-realism, De Sica’s first masterpieces are some of the most famous and affecting of the era. His career blossomed into other regions including comedy and even acclaimed turns as an actor.
Greatest Films:
- Umberto D.
- Bicycle Thieves
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
- Shoeshine
- Two Women
3. Michelangelo Antonioni
An integral voice in art cinema, Antonioni’s desolate odysseys combine existential malaise and striking imagery. Although they are quite slow moving, their impact is lasting.
Greatest Films:
- L’Avventura
- Blow-Up
- Red Desert
- La Notte
- The Passenger
2. Luchino Visconti
Visconti was one of the most ambitious directors of his time, creating many lavish epics with powerful, philosophical content. While occasionally the style outweighed the substance, his greatest films are unforgettable masterpieces.
Greatest Films:
- Death in Venice
- Le Notti Bianche
- The Leopard
- Rocco and his Brothers
- Senso
1. Federico Fellini
Fellini has been the face of Italian cinema since the 1960s when his semi-autobiographical/surreal masterpieces shot to fame. Most impressively, his style continued to evolve over his long career, and while his earlier works may be more acclaimed, his entire filmography is fascinating.
Greatest Films:
- La Dolce Vita
- La Strada
- 8-1/2
- I, Vitteloni
- The Nights of Cabiria
Honorable Mention: Bernardo Bertolucci, Mario Bava, Elio Petri, Pietro Germi
For the Greatest Italian Films click here.
For more film lists click here.