In the still American-led realm of the Academy Awards, it’s unusual for the helmer of a film not in the English language to score a Best Director nomination. It’s far rarer still, meanwhile, for a woman to be nominated in the category at all: just five have done so in 91 years. Only one director, however, has broken both those barriers: in 1977, Italy’s Lina Wertmuller made history as Oscar’s first distaff Best Director nominee, for her darkly comic, baroquely nightmarish Holocaust survival odyssey “Seven Beauties.”
She lost, of course, though the nomination was really the remarkable feat: not just because it came at the expense of Hollywood names like Martin Scorsese and Hal Ashby, but because “Seven Beauties” was — and remains — such an abrasive, discomfiting vision, a million miles removed from the epic, ennobling Second World War stories that pundits like to think of as awards bait.
She lost, of course, though the nomination was really the remarkable feat: not just because it came at the expense of Hollywood names like Martin Scorsese and Hal Ashby, but because “Seven Beauties” was — and remains — such an abrasive, discomfiting vision, a million miles removed from the epic, ennobling Second World War stories that pundits like to think of as awards bait.
- 10/16/2019
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Roger Corman – cinema's pulp genius whose talent to shock was rocket fuel
- 5/12/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Chris Hemsworth got 'bored' with his roles
- 5/12/2024
- by Viki Waters
- Bang Showbiz
Roger Corman, the King of B Movies and legend of the silver screen, dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
SNL Video: Maya Rudolph Is Mother and Slays a Mother’s Day Club Song
- 5/12/2024
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
Maya Rudolph Channels Beyoncé and Madonna in ‘SNL’ Opening Number ‘Mother’
- 5/12/2024
- by Alison Herman
- Variety Film + TV
Quentin Tarantino Said Wes Craven Stopped ‘Scream’ From Being Great
- 5/12/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Henry Cavill Praises Guy Ritchie’s Character-Driven Approach In ‘Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
- 5/11/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Mark Strong’s Best Acting Roles In The Last Decade
- 5/11/2024
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
Movie Review: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” – A Guy Ritchie and Henry Cavill WWII Adventure with a Tarantino Twist
- 5/11/2024
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Climbs to $22 Million Opening Day
- 5/11/2024
- by Jordan Moreau and Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Makes $6.6 Million in Previews
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Maya Rudolph Brings Beyoncé Back to ‘Hot Ones’ for Outrageous SNL Sketch
- 5/12/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety - TV News
‘Law & Order’ Bidding Farewell to Camryn Manheim
- 5/10/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frank Grillo Joins ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr.
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - TV News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘The Witch’ Star Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- 5/9/2024
- by Katcy Stephan, Angelique Jackson and Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Aida Rodriguez: Unpacking My Childhood Traumas Through Comedy Is Cathartic
- 5/6/2024
- by Aida Rodriguez
- Popsugar.com
Roger Corman, B-Movie King and Iconoclast Who Launched Major Directors with Low Budgets, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
The Scariest (and Most Traumatic) Mom Movies: ‘Talk to Me,’ ‘Coraline,’ ‘Mommie Dearest,’ and More
- 5/11/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Utah Pushes to Keep Sundance in State: ‘Utah Will Best Assure the Sundance Film Festival’s Continued Growth’
- 5/11/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
‘Star Wars’: Sigourney Weaver Joins ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ Film
- 5/11/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Hideo Kojima’s Response to Seeing ‘Furiosa’: ‘[George Miller] Is My God, and the Saga He Tells Is My Bible’
- 5/11/2024
- by Harrison Richlin
- Indiewire
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Climbs to $22 Million Opening Day
- 5/11/2024
- by Jordan Moreau and Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Announces 2024 Winners
- 5/10/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Makes $6.6 Million in Previews
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
‘Law & Order’ Bidding Farewell to Camryn Manheim
- 5/10/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Bachelor,’ ‘American Idol’ Among Seven Unscripted Renewals at ABC
- 5/10/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Conners’ Renewed for Seventh and Final Season at ABC, ‘Not Dead Yet’ Canceled
- 5/10/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Frank Grillo Joins ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr.
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - TV News
‘Shogun’ Nears Season 2 Renewal at FX as Star Hiroyuki Sanada Signs Deal to Return
- 5/10/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety - TV News