Valerio Zurlini (Bologna, 1926 – Verona, 1982) was an Italian director and screenwriter, considered one of the most sensitive and introspective filmmakers of post-war cinema. After his debut with *Le ragazze di San Frediano* (1955), he established himself with works such as *Estate violenta* (1959) and especially *La ragazza con la valigia* (1961), which revealed the talent of Claudia Cardinale. His cinema, characterized by an elegant melancholy and a meticulous psychological analysis of his characters, reached its peak with *Cronaca familiare* (1962), a poignant drama starring Marcello Mastroianni, which earned him the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. His filmography, which explores themes such as loneliness, incommunicability, and the weight of memory, culminated with the monumental *Il deserto dei Tartari* (1976), an adaptation of Dino Buzzati's novel, for which he won the David di Donatello and the Nastro d'Argento for Best Director, confirming his status as a rigorous and secluded auteur in the Italian cinematic landscape.