The film stars Giorgio Pasotti (L’aria salata, Alza la testa, Mina Settembre) in the role of Monti, alongside a strong ensemble cast that includes Andrea Pennacchi (Suburra, Berlinguer – La grande ambizione, La Rosa dell’Istria), Denise Tantucci (Io e mio fratello, Braccialetti Rossi), Stefano Scandaletti (Siccità, Don Matteo, Rocco Schiavone) and Maurizio Donadoni (L’ombra di Caravaggio, Le indagini di Lolita Lobosco).
Rosso Volante focuses on the extraordinary sporting career and human values of Eugenio Monti, remembered as one of the most accomplished Italian athletes of all time. A seven-time world champion in bobsleigh, Monti finally achieved Olympic gold at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games, crowning a career defined not only by victories, but by integrity and courage.
The film takes its narrative starting point from one of the most iconic episodes in Olympic history: during the 1964 Innsbruck Winter Olympics, Monti realized that his British rival Tony Nash had lost a bolt from his sled. Without hesitation, Monti handed over his own, allowing the British team to race and ultimately win the gold medal, while Italy settled for bronze. For this exceptional act of sportsmanship, Monti was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy by the International Olympic Committee, the highest recognition for fair play in sport.
From this defining moment, Rosso Volante retraces the four-year journey that led Monti—nicknamed “Rosso Volante” by journalist Gianni Brera for his fearless style and red hair—to his long-awaited Olympic triumph in Grenoble. The film explores years marked by determination, setbacks, resilience and hope, portraying a champion who constantly challenged both the limits of sport and of life itself.
Rosso Volante is a RAI Fiction – Wonder Film – Wonder Project co-production, made with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC) through the Fund for the Development of Investment in Cinema and Audiovisual Works. The project also received funding from the Veneto Region and the support of the Veneto Film Commission.
Significantly, the film is part of the official programme of the Milano Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad, an initiative designed to engage international audiences and promote Italy’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage through sport. In this context, Rosso Volante reflects the core values of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games—fair play, solidarity and intergenerational dialogue—while offering a powerful narrative capable of bringing younger audiences closer to sports culture and its ethical foundations.
