Stanno Tutti Bene (Everybody's Fine), but always watch your back!

*This appeared in the BBC News yesterday, 8/23/07

Cinema Paradiso director 'mugged'

Oscar-winning Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore is in hospital after being attacked and mugged on a street in Rome, according to local reports.

Tornatore, 51, who won a best foreign film Oscar for Cinema Paradiso in 1990, spoke of the attack in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

It said the filmmaker was asked for directions by two men, One of whom then hit him on the head from behind. The thieves ran off with his wallet, watch and mobile phone.

Tornatore told the newspaper that he did "not remember a thing"after he was struck.

Nostalgic tale

The director was due to undergo further tests on Thursday, according to Italian news agency ANSA. It said he was suffering from head trauma and several other minor injuries. His sister told the agency he had recovered and would be home soon.

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Cinema Paradiso tells the nostalgic tale of a young boy who grows up to be a film-maker, having been inspired as a child by a local cinema projectionist.

Tornatore's other films include: Stanno Tutti Bene (Everybody's Fine) with actor, Marcello Mastroianni, Malena, La Leggenda del pianista sull'oceano ( The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean) His latest film, La Sconosciuta (The Unknown) has won several awards in Italy.