Italian filmmaker Carlo Vanzina dies at 67

Carlo Vanzina, the Italian film director and screenwriter who, alongside his brother Enrico, defined popular Italian comedy for decades, has died at age 67. Born in 1949, he began his career as an assistant director to Mario Monicelli and collaborated with his father, director Steno. He made his directorial debut in 1976 with "Luna di miele in tre," written by Enrico. Over 40 years, he directed about 60 films. In 1982, the Vanzina brothers discovered actor Diego Abatantuono in "Eccezzziunale veramente" and "Viuuulentemente mia." Their 1983 film "Sapore di mare" earned 10 billion lire, and "Vacanze di Natale" launched the "cinepanettone" Christmas comedy tradition, though Carlo disliked the term. He described their work as "costume observations" rather than farce. As a child, Carlo aspired to be a film critic, keeping notebooks with mini-reviews and cast lists. Enrico, born in 1951, called his brother "sensitive, intelligent, witty, and never presumptuous."