HBO Max's debut Italian original, 'Portobello', directed by the acclaimed Marco Bellocchio, is poised to captivate audiences with its gripping narrative. The six-part series, launching on February 20, recounts the poignant true story of Enzo Tortora, a revered television presenter from the 1980s who became an unfortunate victim of a baseless mob accusation. Following an initial teaser, HBO Max has now unveiled a comprehensive trailer, offering viewers a more in-depth preview of this compelling drama that explores a significant judicial misstep in Italian history.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s Italy, 'Portobello' reconstructs one of the nation's most notorious cases of legal injustice. Bellocchio, renowned for his works like 'The Traitor' and 'Kidnapped', not only directed but also contributed to the screenplay of this series, named after Tortora's highly popular television show. This program, which once commanded an audience of 28 million during prime time, featured contestants attempting to teach a parrot to speak, a seemingly innocuous detail that belies the dark turn Tortora's life would take.
The series' synopsis reveals that Tortora, a prominent figure in Italian television and even appointed Commander of the Republic, saw his life irrevocably altered by a testimony from Giovanni Pandico. Pandico, a confidant of crime boss Raffaele Cutolo and a regular viewer of 'Portobello', chose to cooperate with authorities, unexpectedly implicating Tortora. This accusation plunged the beloved TV personality into what HBO Max describes as a "senseless judicial ordeal."
The recently released trailer for 'Portobello' highlights the show's promise of a "sensational true story," showcasing Tortora in his element on screen, interspersed with stark images of those behind bars who contributed to his downfall, and quick glimpses of the ensuing media frenzy that surrounded his case. The production is a collaborative effort between Our Films, a Mediawan group company, and Kavac Film, in co-production with ARTE France and in partnership with Rai Fiction and Fremantle's The Apartment Pictures. Fabrizio Gifuni stars as Enzo Tortora, with the screenplay penned by Bellocchio, Stefano Bises, Giordana Mari, and Peppe Fiore, and cinematography by Francesco Di Giacomo.
'Portobello' will be accessible globally via HBO Max, including in upcoming launch territories like Italy and the U.K., though not in France or Germany. The series' initial two episodes garnered critical attention, premiering at the Venice Film Festival and subsequently being screened at the BFI London Film Festival. Reflecting on the protagonist, Bellocchio shared in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter that Tortora, despite his innocence, was not portrayed as a flawless individual or a conventional hero, a complexity that drew the director's interest.
The HBO Max production, 'Portobello', brings to light the true story of Enzo Tortora, a cherished 1980s television host wrongly implicated in a mob-related case. This six-part series explores a dark chapter in Italian legal history, marking HBO Max's significant entry into Italian original content with a compelling and authentic narrative.