Lina Wertmueller (Italy, 1928) was appointed assistant director by Federico Fellini on 8 1/2 (1963).
She later specialized in populist, realistic, historical and sociopolitical films, starting with
I Basilischi/ The Lizards (1963), a satirical fresco of
southern provincial "vitelloni".
After Questa volta parliamo di uomini/ Let's Talk About Men (1965),
she directed two musical comedies, namely
Rita la Zanzara/ Rita the Mosquito (1966) and
Non stuzzicate la zanzara/ Don't Sting the Mosquito (1967),
and the spaghetti-western
Il mio corpo per un poker/ The Belle Starr Story (1968).
Mimi` Metallurgico Ferito nell'Onore/ The Seduction of Mimi
(1972)
is about a young immigrant from Sicily who has to adapt to the industrial
society of northern Italy and eventually returns home to the mafia.
Film d'Amore e Anarchia/ Love and Anarchy
(1973): a young anarchic fails to carry out a terrorist attack because
the prostitutes who share his apartment don't wake him up in time, and he
is arrested and beated to death.
Tutto a Posto e Niente in Ordine/ All Screwed Up (1974)
describes the life of a community of poor alienated waitresses and workers in the center of the wealthy metropolis.
Travolti da un Insolito Destino nell'Azzurro Mare d'Agosto/ Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August
(1974) is set on a desert island where the wife of an entrepreneur gives
herself to a communist sailor although when they return to the mainland each returns to her and his social role.
Pasqualino Settebellezze/ Seven Beauties
(1975)
is a sarcastic comedy satirizing the vile and selfish spirit of mediocre misfits.
Un assassino accetta di arruolarsi, in cambio della scarcerazione, patisce ogni sorta di stenti, viene internato in un lager deciso doltanto a a cavarsela, al ritorno riprende la sua carriera di criminale meschino.
La Fine del Mondo nel nostro Solito Letto in una Notte Piena di Pioggia/ A Night Full of Rain (1978)
Fatto di Sangue fra due Uomini per causa di una Vedova, si Sospettano Moventi Politici/ Blood Feud (1978)
Scherzo del Destino in Agguato Dietro l'Angolo come un Brigante da Strada/ A Joke of Destiny (1983)
is a fantapolitical farce
Il ministro resta bloccato in un'auto blindata che viene segretamente esaminata nella villa di un deputato; arrivano politici, agenti segreti e terroristi, ma nessuno sa risolvere il mistero.
Sotto Sotto Strapazzato da Anomala Passione/ Softly, Softly (1984)
The thriller Un Complicato Intrigo di Donne, Vicoli e Delitti/ Camorra (1986)
Notte d'Estate con Profilo Greco, Occhi a Mandorla e Odore di Basilico/ Summer Night, with Greek Profile, Almond Eyes and Scent of Basil (1986)
is a grotesque variation on the relationship between
torturer and victim but set among the higher middle class.
In una Notte di Chiaro di Luna/ Crystal or Ash, Fire or Wind, As Long as It's Love (1989)
Il Decimo Clandestino/ The Tenth One in Hiding (1989)
Sabato, Domenica e Lunedi`/ Saturday, Sunday and Monday (1990)
Ciao, Professore! (1992)
Ninfa Plebea/ The Nymph (1996)
Metalmeccanico e Parrucchiera in un Turbine di Sesso e Politica/ The Blue Collar Worker and the Hairdresser in a Whirl of Sex and Politics (1996)
Ferdinando e Carolina (1999)
Peperoni Ripieni e Pesci in Faccia/ Too Much Romance It's Time for Stuffed Peppers (2004)
