Sebastián Lelio, the Chilean director whose film "A Fantastic Woman" won an Oscar, died Friday at his home in Santiago at 52.
Sebastián Lelio, one of Chile's best-known filmmakers internationally, died Friday at his home in Santiago, according to Variety. He was 52.
His partner, the actress Amalia Kassai, announced the news on Instagram. She said his death was "due to health reasons." The Chilean outlet El Mercurio Online reported that Kassai contacted police after he was found at the home, which is in the Las Condes district of the city.
Neither Variety's account nor the details it attributed to El Mercurio Online gave further information about the circumstances.
In her post, Kassai wrote of the loss in personal terms and also pointed to his place in Chilean cultural life. "We are going through a very painful time, and his memory will remain with us forever. He was a wonderful person who contributed to Chilean culture during important moments in its history," she wrote.
A statement signed by the Lelio Kassai family and the Campos Watt family asked for space to grieve. "As a family, we ask for respect for our privacy and consideration during these difficult times," it said.
Lelio was best known for "A Fantastic Woman," which stars Daniela Vega as a trans woman who becomes caught up in the accidental death of her older boyfriend. The film won the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2018. It also took the Independent Spirit Award for best international film.
According to Variety, the film's focus on gender identity helped bring about reforms in Chile on how trans people are identified. That made it a work with effects beyond the awards circuit.
Lelio was born in Argentina and moved to Chile when he was 2. His first feature was "La Sagrada Familia." It was followed by "Navidad" and "The Year of the Tiger." His film "Gloria" won numerous awards.
He later reworked that story in English as "Gloria Bell," with Julianne Moore and John Turturro. It follows a free-spirited woman who looks for love in the dance clubs of Los Angeles.
His 2017 English-language film "Disobedience" starred Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams. It tells of a woman who goes back to an Orthodox community, where she reunites with a childhood friend. Variety also lists "The Wonder" among his credits.
His most recent completed film was "The Wave," a musical inspired by feminist mobilizations in Chile.
At the time of his death, Lelio was working on "Chilean Poet," a film based on the novel by Alejandro Zambra. Variety's report did not say what would happen to the project.
No funeral or memorial arrangements were included in the source material. The family's request for privacy suggests further details may come from them directly.
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