Cinema Paradiso director 'mugged'

Giuseppe Tornatore's latest film is called The Unknown

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 film-maker 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.

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 latest film is called La Sconosciuta (The Unknown).

The movie, about a Ukrainian woman trying to escape her past, has won several awards in Italy.