One of the most prominent figures in the Italian cinema industry, director and screenwriter Ettore Scola, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84 after being in a coma for three days after he was admitted for cardiac surgery in a hospital in Rome.
Scola was known internationally for the film, "A Special Day," which won a Golden Globe and nominated for an Oscar in 1977. The stars in the film were Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren, according to the BBC.
Scola began his career in 1953 and began directing 1964. He eventually bagged the Best Director award during the 1976 Cannes Film Festival for his film "Brutti, Sporchi, Cattivi" ("The Good, Bad and Ugly") according to the Associated Press. He retired in 2011.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi expressed his grief over the passing of the distinguished Italian. He praised Scola for having the ability to "read Italy and its changes" and said that his passing will "leave an enormous void in Italian culture," according to the Guardian.
Ettore Scola, maestro dalla incredibile capacità di lettura dell’Italia e dei suoi cambiamenti,lascia un enorme vuoto nella cultura italiana
— Matteo Renzi (@matteorenzi) January 19, 2016
Italian artists, politicians, and fans tweeted regarding Scola's passing.
9h @LVT_RTL @RTLFrance hommage à #EttoreScola #ParisWillouby #LeConvoi #TheDanishGirl #Chorus pic.twitter.com/nrbrE0kjJm — Stéphane Boudsocq (@Stephbou08) January 20, 2016
By by #EttoreScola pic.twitter.com/sF75kdjrct — Frédérique Bel (@FrederiqueBel) January 19, 2016
Ci ha lasciato Ettore Scola. Un grande maestro, un uomo straordinario, giovane sino all'ultimo giorno della sua vita. — Dario Franceschini (@dariofrance) January 19, 2016
