Activities : Director, Screenwriter, Author of original work

Callas Forever (2002), from Franco Zeffirelli
Jane Eyre (1996), from Franco Zeffirelli
TOSCANINI (1988), from Franco Zeffirelli
JESUS DE NAZARETH (1976), from Franco Zeffirelli

Complete filmography

Franco Zeffirelli was born in Florence in 1923. After studying architecture, he moved to Rome and embarked upon a theatrical career. He designed his first set at the age of twenty-two and, a few months later, appeared on stage as Dimitri in "Crime and Punishment", directed by Luchino Visconti. He started his film career as assistant to Visconti ("Bellissima", "Senso"...), before directing his first film ("Camping", in 1957). The lavish splendour of "The Taming of the Shrew" (1967) and "Romeo and Juliet" (1968) revealed his love of opera and his knowledge of Shakespeare. Alongside his film career, he is internationally renowned as a director of plays and operas. He has staged "Norma", "La Traviata" (two of Maria Callas's greatest performances) and the masterpieces of the lyric repertoire. On film, he served Verdi magnificently in "La Traviata" (1982) and "Otello" (1986). He has a masterful ability to direct spectacular sagas such as "Jesus of Nazareth" (1978, for cinema and television). "Jane Eyre" is his fourteenth feature film.