Italian film and opera director Franco Zeffirelli dies at 96

Franco Zeffirelli [Photo: Courtesy]

Franco Zeffirelli, the film and opera director acclaimed for movies such as “Romeo and Juliet” and opulent lyrical productions on the world’s major stages, died on Saturday at the age of 96.

Often appreciated more by the public than critics, Zeffirelli was the last of a generation of Italian film giants who came of age after World War Two and included Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti and Vittorio De Sica.