Swedish director Vilgot Sjoman dead at 81

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 11 (UPI) -- Director and author Vilgot Sjoman, who had an international hit with his provocative "I Am Curious (Yellow)," has died in Stockholm, Sweden, at age 81.

Sjoman died Sunday from a cerebral hemorrhage and will never know the outcome of his court battle to get his films shown on Swedish TV without commercial breaks, Daily Variety said Tuesday.

Sjoman's crusade earned him Sweden's Ingmar Bergman Prize in 2002 and it was believed a decision in the years-old case was imminent, Variety said.

The director debuted in 1962 with the critically-acclaimed "The Mistress" and sparked a censorship debate in 1964 with "491." The sexually explicit film challenging Christian ethics was banned by the government, but eventually released.

His "I Am Curious (Yellow)" and the followup, "I Am Curious Blue," continued his provocative style and became box office hits.

Sjoman also wrote dozens of books and directed about 25 films, the last being 1995's "Alfred Nobel."

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, could provoke strong sentiments.