Tinto Brass, Italian director known for erotic films, dies at 93

Key points

• Tinto Brass, born in Milan in 1933, died in Rome at age 93.
• His family, including wife Caterina Varzi and children Bonifacio and Beatrice, announced his death to Ansa on Wednesday.
• Brass is best known for erotic films like Caligula (1979) and Salon Kitty (1976).
• Caligula, budgeted at $25 million, featured a dispute between Brass, screenwriter Gore Vidal, and producer Bob Guccione over added hardcore scenes.
• Brass began his career in Paris, working with the Cinémathèque française and assisting Roberto Rossellini.
• He continued making films into the 2000s, with his last works including erotic shorts like Monamour.

Background

Brass’s career began in the 1960s with avant-garde and experimental films. He moved to Paris after graduating in law, connecting with the Nouvelle Vague movement. In the 1970s, he shifted to erotic cinema, gaining international notoriety. A re-edited version of Caligula, removing Guccione’s added scenes, was screened at Cannes Classics in 2023. Brass lived in Isola Farnese, near Rome, in his later years.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and The Guardian both highlight Brass’s association with erotic films and the controversy surrounding Caligula. The Guardian notes that Brass was once called the 'Antonioni of the 70s' and that Warner Bros reportedly approached him to direct A Clockwork Orange. Euronews emphasizes his broader impact on Italian cinema and his wish for his ashes to be scattered in the Venice lagoon. The Telegraph source was inaccessible due to a security block, so no perspective could be extracted from it.

Why it matters

Brass’s death marks the end of an era in Italian cinema. His work challenged censorship and social taboos, influencing how erotic themes were portrayed in film. His legacy includes both artistic experimentation and commercial success, making him a significant figure in 20th-century cinema.

What to watch

Brass’s estate and archive, curated by his wife Caterina Varzi, will likely continue to be preserved. His films, including restored versions, may continue to be screened at festivals. There is no indication of new projects, as he had been active into the 2000s but had not made a feature film in recent years.