Volkswacht Bodensee - Italian director Moretti leaves hospital after heart attack

The 71-year-old director, actor and screenwriter -- best known outside of Italy for 1993's "Caro Diario" (Dear Diary) and 2001's "La stanza del figlio" (The Son's Room) -- suffered a heart attack and was taken to a Rome hospital on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the head of cardiology at Rome's San Camillo hospital said Moretti was in "stable" condition after surgery.

It was not immediately known when he left hospital.

But on Sunday, Moretti spoke by telephone from his home to the Custodi di Sogni - I Tesori della Cineteca Nazionale festival in Rome, according to a video sent to AFP by organisers.

Often compared to Woody Allen for his eccentric, offbeat and autobiographical topics, Moretti won the Cannes Film Festival's Palme D'Or in 2001 for "The Son's Room".

Moretti's most recent film, "A Brighter Tomorrow", about a film director -- played by Moretti -- competed at Cannes in 2023.

H.Kuenzler--VB