“When I am shooting a film I never think of how I want to shoot something; I simply shoot it. My technique, which differs from film to film, is wholly instinctive and never based on a priori considerations.”

Born in 1912 to wealthy landowners in Ferrara, in northern Italy he had a happy childhood.  His parents had poor origins but had made their own fortune.  His father was a film critic.  His first passions were drawing and music - specifically the violin which he played brilliantly.  He studied economics at the University of Bologna, but then began work as a film journalist.  In 1940 he moved to Rome where he eventually enrolled in film studies.  His early career was working for and with others such as Rossellini and Marcel Carné, but in 1950 he created his first feature film Cronaca di un Amore.  His first international success was with L’Avventura in 1960.  His best work was in the 60s and 70s but he was working until almost his death at the age of 94.  He died in Rome on the same day as Ingmar Bergman.