Minghella's film debuts the day he died

LONDON, March 19 (UPI) -- The London premiere of Anthony Minghella's adaptation of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books went on as planned despite Minghella's sudden death.

The "Cold Mountain" and "The English Patient" filmmaker died Tuesday morning of a hemorrhage, days after undergoing surgery for cancer of the tonsils and neck. He was 54.

Minghella co-wrote and directed a film version of Alexander McCall Smith's Botswana-set "Detective Agency" novels, which is to air on HBO and the BBC, and serve as a pilot for a TV series.

The movie, which stars singer and actress Jill Scott, premiered Tuesday night as scheduled with the blessing of Minghella's family, the BBC said.

"It was a bittersweet occasion last night," Smith told BBC News Wednesday. "It was very, very moving and made all the more moving by the sad circumstances -- but what a beautiful film he's made. The remarkable thing is that Minghella didn't really have great experience of Africa before he did this. He went there and he understood, he really understood."