Antonio Pietrangeli (1919-1968), a director and screenwriter, was a central figure in post-war Italian cinema. He began his career as a film critic and screenwriter, collaborating on masterpieces of neorealism such as Luchino Visconti's *Ossessione* (1943). As a director, he was noted for his keen sensitivity in portraying complex and multifaceted female characters, exploring the aspirations and disillusionments of women in Italian society during the economic boom. His most celebrated works include *Adua e le compagne* (1960), *La visita* (1963), and his masterpiece, *Io la conoscevo bene* (1965), a bitter reflection on the world of show business through the story of a young aspiring actress. For the latter film, he won the Nastro d'Argento for Best Director, consolidating his reputation as an auteur attentive to character psychology. His promising career was tragically cut short by his death from drowning during the filming of his final work.