William Friedkin, who depicted the ill of the United States, has died.

The world of cinema mourns the passing of  William Friedkin, who died at the age of 88. The renowned director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his impactful and original works, was born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago.

William Friedkin’s Cinema

William Friedkin is universally known for directing “The Exorcist”  in 1973, one of the most iconic and influential horror films in the history of cinema. Based on the novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty, the film follows the story of Catholic priest Damien Karras, played by Jason Miller, and veteran exorcist Father Lankester Merrin, played by Max von Sydow, as they attempt to exorcise a demon from the body of a young possessed girl, played by Linda Blair. The film was a massive box office success and received enthusiastic critical acclaim, earning ten Oscar nominations and winning two of them.

Friedkin had already demonstrated his great talent and versatility with the psychological thriller “The French Connection” in 1971. This police thriller, based on real events during “The French Connection,” follows two narcotics detectives, played by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, as they attempt to dismantle a drug trafficking organization.

The film received numerous awards and accolades, winning five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Friedkin, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The director continued to challenge conventions and be ahead of his time with groundbreaking works like “Sorcerer)” (1977), an adventurous drama adapted from the French novel “Le salaire de la peur” by Georges Arnaud, as well as “Cruising” (1980) and “To Live and Die in L.A.” (1985). His cinema often portrays the unease and traumas of post-sixties America, characterized by imperfect main characters whose morality is always murky and conflicted.

William Friedkin and the Venice Film Festival

The passing of the American director has deeply affected the President, the General Manager, the Board of Directors, the Director of the Venice International Film Festival, along with the entire La Biennale di Venezia, who bid farewell to William Friedkin in a statement.

The director was expected at the 80th edition of the Festival, where he would have presented his latest film, “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”, and the restoration of the cinema classic, “The Exorcist”.

In 2013, the Venice International Film Festival awarded him the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his revolutionary contribution to American cinema, especially during the New Hollywood era.

William Friedkin has participated multiple times in the Venice International Film Festival, receiving acclaim from both audiences and critics. In 1995, he presented “Jade” in the Venetian Nights section, and in 2011, his film “Killer Joe” starring Matthew McConaughey was presented in Competition.