Great director Bernardo
Bertolucci, who died Monday aged 77, lay in State at the
Campidoglio in Rome on Tuesday.
Great cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who worked on many of
Bertolucci's masterpieces, was among the first to pay his
respects, telling reporters "he was a brother and a maestro".
Next to the open coffin, with wreaths from Rome Mayor
Virginia Raggi and Lazio Governor Nicola Zingaretti, friends and
family stood by.
"We are all poorer without him," said actress Stefania
Sandrelli.
Zingaretti told reporters that the regional government would
respond to requests from school heads and distribute
Bertolucci's politically tinged masterpiece '1900' in schools
across Lazio.
Cult horror director Dario Argento recalled that he and
Bertolucci had worked together as screenwriters for Sergio
Leone's western masterpiece Once Upon A Time In The West.
"I hadn't seen him for many years, but I think our friendship
remained the same.
"He was the greatest director of his generation and perhaps
one of the greatest there has ever been".
Oscar winner Giuseppe Tornatore, of Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
fame, was asked about suggestions he might direct the film
Bertolucci was preparing, and said "I don't think I'm up to
grasping his stylistic speciality".
Bertolucci had just finished the screenplay for the project,
entitled The Echo Chamber.
There will be a commemoration of Bertolucci on Thursday
December 6 at the Teatro Argentina theatre, organisers said
Tuesday.
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