Photo: Cynthia Sleiter, Raffaella De Laurentiis
Isabella Rossellini won’t be the only Italian at the Oscars. Another professional from Italian cinema will walk the red carpet: Cynthia Sleiter, nominated as set decorator for “Conclave”. Her name might suggest otherwise, but she is a true Roman. “People always assume I’m Anglo-Saxon, but I’m 100% Italian” she says from her home near Piazza Navona. Her international background explains the mix—an English first name, an old Dutch surname, and a German theologian grandfather, Erik Peterson, admired by Pope Benedict XVI.
Sleiter shares the nomination with production designer Suzie Davies, as the Best Production Design Oscar recognizes both roles. Italy has won this award four times, including “The Last Emperor” and three films by Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo. This year’s competition is fierce, but “Conclave”, directed by Edward Berger, has a shot with its gripping portrayal of the intrigues surrounding a papal election.
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