**Francesco Rosi** (1922-2015) was an influential Italian director, known for his "civil cinema" or investigative films, focused on the critical analysis of power, political and economic corruption, and criminal mechanisms.

Noteworthy among his masterpieces, which often blended fiction and documentary to expose uncomfortable truths, are: *Salvatore Giuliano* (1962), an investigation into the Mafia and the State; *Hands Over the City* (1963), an exposé of real estate speculation; *The Mattei Affair* (1972), about the mysterious death of Enrico Mattei; and *Illustrious Corpses* (1976), a reflection on the relationship between politics and justice.

Winner of a Palme d'Or at Cannes and a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at Venice, his style, characterized by rigorous realism and complex narration, left an indelible mark on Italian and international cinema.