Italian Film Legend Dino Risi Dies at 91

by Amrita Das

Touted as “Father of Italian Comedy”, Film maker and Director Dino Risi died on saturday at 12:30 PM in Rome in his Aldrovandi Palace apartment residence. He was 91.

Risi was known as one of the legends and experts of the Italian comedy. He became famous with his films like Poveri ma Belli (Poor But Beautiful), Belle ma Povere (Poor Girl, Pretty Girl) and Il Sorpasso (The Easy Life) and established himself as the as the king of comedy and satire genre.

In 1974, Risi made “Profumo di Donna,” or “Scent of a Woman” which received Oscar nominations and its remake won Oscars later on in 1992.

Risi was born in a family of doctors in Milan in 1916 and intended to become a doctor himself also. However, he ended up having a career in the movies. He is survived by two children, Claudio and Marco.