The Italian director Michele Soavi, born in Milan in 1957, emerged as a vital force in the horror genre during the late 1980s and 1990s. Beyond his primary role as a filmmaker, he maintained a multifaceted career as an actor, screenwriter, and assistant director, often operating under various Anglicized pseudonyms to suit the conventions of the era.
Early Career and Collaboration
The son of the poet and journalist Giorgio Soavi and Lidia Olivetti, granddaughter of industrialist Adriano Olivetti, Soavi developed an early interest in film. He studied at the drama school of Alessandro Fersen and worked as a cameraman before his first acting extra role in Marco Modugno's 1979 film Bambule. His career gained momentum through extensive collaborations with established directors. He served as an assistant to Aristide Massacessi and later joined Dario Argento for projects including Tenebrae, Phenomena, and Opera. During this period, he also assisted Lamberto Bava on productions like Demons and served under Terry Gilliam for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
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Soavi's debut as a feature director came with the 1987 film Stage Fright, produced by Joe D'Amato. He followed this with The Church in 1989 and The Sect in 1990. His most notable work of the 1990s remains the 1994 zombie production Cemetery Man, based on the novel by Tiziano Sclavi and starring Rupert Everett. While Soavi was once approached by Quentin Tarantino to direct From Dusk till Dawn, he declined the offer due to a lack of familiarity with the script. During the mid-1990s, he stepped away from the industry to prioritize personal family matters.
Transition to Television and Later Features
Returning to professional work in the television sector, Soavi directed several projects throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, including titles such as Uno bianca and St. Francis. He returned to feature filmmaking in 2006 with the neo-noir The Goodbye Kiss, which featured Michele Placido and earned Soavi a Best Director prize at the Taormina Film Fest. His subsequent credits include the World War II drama Blood of the Losers and the 2018 fantasy comedy The Legend of the Christmas Witch.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 July 1957, Milan, Italy
- Known for: Horror genre films
- Notable work: Cemetery Man (1994)
- Acting pseudonyms: Michael Soavi, Michael Shaw, Michael Soft, Michael Saroyan
- Directorial debut: Stage Fright (1987)
- Television work: Ultimo series, Rocco Schiavone
Questions readers ask
Did Michele Soavi appear in his own movies?
Yes, he frequently made cameo appearances in the films he directed and those he assisted on prior to the year 2000.
What awards did he win for The Goodbye Kiss?
He received the Best Director Award at the Taormina Film Fest, and the film was nominated for three David di Donatello Awards.
Achievements
- Worked as film director, actor and screenwriter
